The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN they originally got started, Kirsti Johnson and her accreditation team didn't anticipate the massive turnout of persons to be accredited for the 6th Commonwealth Youth Games.

By the time the games got underway, Johnson and her crew of about 20 volunteers had to move from inside the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium to a makeshift office outside.

"It's been rough. We served about 1,000 persons over the last four days but we are trying to get everybody accredited and stationed where they are supposed to be," said Johnson, the director of accreditation.

"Currently, we have 4,472 persons to accredit. That includes athletes, volunteers and officials. It's a mammoth task, but we are up to the task."

Coming out of a congested area at the beginning of the process, Johnson said they have relocated to a more suitable location where it's much easier for her team to function.

"It's more spacious so the flow has been much better for us," Johnson pointed out. "We had some rough people, but we were able to take care of them."

She credits her crew that include Fernerin Hanna, Ricardo Demeritte, Kurtwood Greene, Sheddena Bethel, Glendina Moss, Charmaine Arahna, Bradedawn Smith, Diondra Rollins, Latiesha Thompson, Samantha Smith, PreciousSeymour, Michelle Storr, Cheryl Christie, Kyra Cunningham, Kelcine Stubbs, Mayah Ferguson, Adawn Symonette, Tamitha Tynes-Ross, Stacy Smith, Yvonne Bannister, Nadia Cash and Nicolette Archer for getting the job done.

Johnson said her staff has not had any major issues in getting their job done. She acknowledged that they were able to deal with everybody who showed up with their proper documentation.

"For the most part, anything that we couldn't deal with, we took it up to the CYG office," said Johnson of the Commonwealth Youth Games' operation headed by Romell Knowles.

Most of the team have been together since the initial IAAF World Relays and have worked all three.

"We have nine disciplines and different venues, so it was more of a challenge," Johnson said. "We have a lot of volunteers and they have been functioning very well."

Their working hours have been from 9am to 6pm daily, but Johnson said they will be available under the tent up until the end of the games on Sunday, just in case there is a late request or, for some reason, somebody needs a replacement accreditation.

"Once persons come in, they have to provide us with a government-licensed ID. We scan it and print it on the card," she said. "It's a very simple process so it doesn't take that long to process persons."