Organiser of this week-end’s De Gold Striders Games Derill Gittens said yesterday that prize money for the Under-17 events will go to the clubs and not the athletes.

The De Gold Striders will stage a track and field meet this week end at the Police Sports Club ground with over a million dollars in cash and prizes at stake.

The event has not received the authoritative approval of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) since the association president is firm that athletes under-16 years of age cannot compete for money.

But Gittens said yesterday there is no prize money on any event.

“There is no money on a category. The athletes are running for points and at the end of the meet the club with the most points will be declared the winner. There is no individual money to be contested for.”

Gittens yesterday said he was reluctant to omit the category from the meet since the athletes had been training for the events and stressed that the money will go to the clubs.

“When I was fully aware that the Under-16s cannot run was at a time at which the clubs were already preparing their athletes,” he explained.

“If the athletes are not receiving the money directly then it shouldn’t be a problem,” an experienced sports administrator said yesterday in an invited comment.

Gittens yesterday told Stabroek Sport that six clubs and one school had already registered for the meet.

He said athletic clubs – Ruralites, Royal Youth Movement (RYM), Rising Stars, Running Brave, Mercury and Enmore had already submitted registration forms as well as Tutorial High School.

Gittens said after an amicable discussion with the AAG he had chosen not to have the event sanctioned.

The international Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) to which the AAG is affiliated has a rule which  states that athletes under the age of 16 years cannot be allowed to participate in meets where cash prizes are involved.

Gittens made it clear that despite his decision he still enjoys an amicable relationship with Boyce and the AAG executive since he still is offering advice towards the event.

Gittens assured that all tickets printed with the original date and location is still valid for the Games this weekend, and he still expects the games to be a stepping stone

“There are so [much] speculation, but the games are seeking to set certain standards to rekindle the energy and interest of the spectators, athletes and corporate Guyana in athletics. And even with all the speculation when we have everything in place the games will happen,” Gittens said.

Patrons seeking tickets can contact any athletics club manager, tickets cost $600.

Registration closed off late yesterday after being open for almost a month, a registration fee of $500 per athlete will be charged.

Courts Guyana Inc, LIAT, and Ansa Mcal under their product Nourishment have already jumped on board as sponsors for the event.