The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE government plans to spend around three to five million dollars in preparations each time it hosts the IAAF World Relays - in 2014 and again in 2015 - according to Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Dr Danny Johnson.

With an economy struggling to make a turnaround, Dr Johnson said the government expects to double its financial returns when 700 athletes and 300 officials come to the country for the events.

He made the announcement while officially introducing the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and its board of executives yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister. The inaugural relay will be held on May 24 and 25 next year.

Dr Johnson said: “A part of it is accommodation, a games village. These are very very high end events; so you have prizes, transportation. It’s the logistics of what happens behind the scenes not just what you see on that day.

“You are looking at three to five million dollars in terms of setting it up properly. We have a return on investment. Normally it is about two to one. We are expecting the economic impact to be at least double that for us as a country.

“The advertising impact of this for two days to be on major networks around the world carried by 52 countries is about a similar amount. So we really have done the economic work behind the scenes. Its a fairly good investment and the return should be impressive.”

There are also upgrades in the pipeline to bring the National Stadium up to standard including infrastructure to provide sufficient media coverage.

Vice Chairman of the LOC Mike Sands said: “I am very excited that the IAAF has had the confidence in the BAAA and the Bahamas to award this historic event to us. A lot of work has been done behind the scenes and we are now unveiling it. Beginning today we will be moving fast forward for the event.

“It is indeed an exciting period for track and field in the Bahamas.”

Officials said 25 full time paid jobs and 150 part-time jobs will be created with the LOC.