Tovar: A synthetic track in SVG will be like a magnet

Area Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean of track supplier of Mondo, Michael Tovar, has said that the presence of a synthetic track in St Vincent and the Grenadines will be like a magnet.{{more}}

Tovar was here last Saturday to hold talks with government and sporting officials on the feasibility of St Vincent and the Grenadines putting down such a facility.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT following a meeting with officials and site visits to the proposed National Stadium sites at Diamond and the Sion Hill Playing Field, Tovar shared his experience on what has happened to neighbouring Caribbean territories.

“Many Caribbean nations, as soon as they had a track installed, people want to go to the track to practise, they want to compete,” Tovar stated.

With just preliminary discussions achieved thus far, Tovar is recommending that a standard track is best suited for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“The standard track is already certified by the IAAF, which will allow you to host any national, regional or international competition, with two exceptions, the IAAF World Championships and the Olympic Games,” Tovar revealed.

Tovar said that such a track will serve for many years and is easily maintained.

Not in a position to influence which of the two sites should be eventually chosen, Tovar said in going forward with such a facility, thought must be given to its accessibility.

“It should be close to where most people live in St Vincent; the schools should be nearby the facility,” Tovar stated emphatically.

“We are not talking here of high elite athletes who have the drive to take a bus or will drive to train on the track, so we have to make it easier for them,” Tovar remarked.

“We have to make the facility attractive to them for people to come into the sport and practise every day, to achieve the results necessary to win an international medal,” the Mondo track official added.

Tovar also expounded on the overall benefits of a synthetic track will have on the country.

“Having international events, bring international recognition to the country; it brings international athletes, it bring international visibility,” Tovar advanced.

The Mondo official said that he believes that there is raw Athletics talent here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, but as with a diamond, it has to be refined and the presence of a synthetic track can aid in such advancement.

Tovar, whilst not committing himself to a definitive cost, said that a standard track may cost St Vincent and the Grenadines in the vicinity of US $1 million.

Before making the site visits, Tovar held discussions with Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture, Cecil Mc Kie; Team Athletics SVG’s President Keith Joseph; Vice President of Team Athletics SVG Leroy Llewellyn and President of the National Olympic Committee, Trevor Bailey.

Also attending the meeting held at the Conference of the National Sports Council Office at Arnos Vale Playing Field were Chairman of the National Sports Council, Carlton James; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Youth and Sports, Lavern Grant; Chairman of the National Stadium Committee, Garth Saunders and Track and Field Coach, Michael Ollivierre.(RT)