The CIAA President Rayle Roberts reads his report. (Photo by Mwangi Ngamate)

By Mwangi Ngamate
mwangi@caymannetnews.com

Finance is the greatest challenge for Cayman Islands Athletic Association, its President Rayle Roberts noted in the recent annual general meeting.

“In addition to the number of challenges faced this year, the greatest was that of finances and efforts to have better control, and to place the Association in a profitable position in dire,” he said.

“Undoubtedly our region is the most dominant in the world and we must be a material part of that force. It is no longer sufficient to attend regional and international meets but that we also return with some hardware so that all eyes turn to us,” he said.

He was, however, thankful to the government and CUC and other agencies that have worked with the association.

“CUC continues to be our major sponsor and we thank them for their generosity. Many thanks also to CNB, Truman Bodden and Island Pharmacy who make very valuable contributions to the existence of this Association,” he noted.

The President noted that in his annual report to the more than 30 persons present that in this year the Cayman Islands were represented at all major meets except Pan Am Juniors. Those in which the country participated were CARIFTA in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia; Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Age Group Championships in Nassau, Bahamas; CAC Seniors in Havana, Cuba; Island Games in Aland, Finland; World Youth Championships in Sudtirol, Italy and World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany.

The President noted that the athletes represented Cayman with courage and distinction and achieved a number of personal bests.

“Unfortunately, the inaugural Caribbean Games to be held in Trinidad was cancelled due to fears of the outbreak of the ‘swine flu’. To compensate for this, athletes were given an opportunity to compete in the Games in Colombia”.

The President noted that competition during district meets that were held early this year was encouraging especially among the 13 and under age groups.

“However, contending with the Primary School football competition early in the season robbed us of some of our promising young athletes. Once that competition was out of the way and the Inter-Primary Sports on the horizon, all attention was focused on track and field; and schools took the opportunity to prepare and expose their athletes to the highly anticipated event”.

The president observed that an Inter-Secondary Championships was needed to provide a training ground for high school athletes.

“Without such a meet on the calendar, there is limited opportunity to develop the talent that leaves primary schools, which manifests itself at CARIFTA, CAC Juniors, Pan Am, Juniors, and World Youth, to name a few events. Although there is appreciation for the success at the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT), and BAYTAF, systems must be established to ensure adequate preparation for these events,” he said.