Bermuda National Athletics Association President Donna Watson sent the Minister of Sports an email following hearing an interview.
Dear Minister Scott
We the Bermuda National Athlete Association (BNAA) would like to correct and clarify a comment that has been repeated many times and you repeated again last evening on the sports newscast with Earl Basden.
You stated that all National Sports Governing Bodies who use the National Sports Center pay except for BNAA. This is not accurate. BNAA has always paid for the use of the National Sports Centre for local and International track meets and paid monthly for the electricity used to light the track when track athletes trained which the public has also benefited from. We currently pay $125 per hour for local meets which are held just about every other week from January to June (for an average of 3-4 hours). We also paid $30,000 for use of the National Sports Centre for 3 days during Carifta 2012. Average monthly bills for electricity were approximately $450 per month.
Therefore, like other NSGBs, BNAA does pay to use the facilities. The recent issue has arisen due to the implementation of a charge on track club athletes to train at the National Sports Centre.
BNAA understands that some clubs/associations of other sports/NSGBs contract directly with the NSC with regard to use and payment for use, and that the NSGBs pay, as does BNAA, for NSGB sponsored events.
However, the trustees of the NSC wanted BNAA to assume full financial responsibility for all users of the track associated with BNAA, and even suggested that if it had to deal with individual club users, it would raise the price (which at that time fluctuated between $28K -$50K). BNAA is unable to do so for financial and other reasons.
As you are aware, a couple of the other reasons are that athletics is a grassroots sport, and the total aggregate number of athletes involved from very junior to senior level is relatively small compared to other sports (about 100 across all clubs). Therefore there isn't the economic or a large base from which to raise income necessary to pay to use the track.
Athletes in Bermuda are already disadvantaged because of Bermuda's relative isolation when it comes to getting good, regular competition, etc. Track athletes are now further disadvantaged because there are no other facilities available in Bermuda, at which they can train. Although there was a statement that the public can use the north field with no charge, apparently the minor members of a track club are not considered members of the public and have been told that they cannot even train there unless they pay $125 per hour.
You indicated in your interview that the National Sports Centre can be used up to 2 weeks before a major international completion for training. With respect, 2 weeks training with the right equipment and in the right facilities, is generally not sufficient time if the athletes wish to be at their best competitively.
Therefore BNAA believes that the athletes in the youth clubs should be exempted because by the time the young people join track clubs and maintain regular training, they are generally the serious athletes training towards junior regional and international competitions, such as Carifta, leading to the World festivals, on both junior and senior levels, and need the support, financial and otherwise, of their country and community.
As you know, BNAA is concerned that the recent growth and strides in athletics will now be compromised - athletics in Bermuda requires support.
I think we need not forget Bermuda Marathon Weekend that brings in many overseas athletes and contributes financially to our economy each year during the slow period in Bermuda.