Often in the news, we tell you about how the Belize Amateur Athletics Association has delegation of Belizean athletes winning regional tournaments and bringing home medals despite the fact that the country's leading track facility, the Marion Jones Sporting Complex has been closed for a few years.
Well, that facility is closer to completion for the first time in a long time, and the association's members now enjoy limited access to the facility since the soft opening by the Ministry of Sports. Another challenge that the BAAA has been experiencing is the lack of equipment and so yesterday, the Belize National Olympic Committee handed over some much need items to help the athletes train and develop.
We were there for the handing over, and we spoke with both sides about its importance:
Owen Sony Meighan - VP, Belize National Olympic Committee
"We've got shotput, we've disks, stop watches, hurdling equipment, marker, which aims to mark the fields easily - that's about it. Everything they requested we've got."
Reporter
"Tell us about why the NOC believe it was important to donate these sorts of equipment?"
Owen Sony Meighan
"Well we've just gotten a new track and the equipment they had before had been burnt and lost and we foresee a lot of our young athletes now, very good potential in them and we figure with this help, they will be able to perform much better."
Deon Sutherland - President, BAAA
"We are much grateful and thankful for these equipment, because we have been struggling over the years with equipment. We have the track now for use, but we don't have any equipment and so when the NOC asked us to request equipment we did not hesitate and we did that and as quickly as they could, they provided these equipment for us and so we are grateful."
Reporter
"How many athletes will this benefit?"
Deon Sutherland
"We have over 140 athletes right now. As you know it is summertime, we are preparing for quite a number of events and just because its summer a lot of the athletes are out there, so we must say thanks to them. They provided a coach for us and now we have the equipment to go along with that."
The Association's president says that the equipment will be put to use as soon as possible.
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