The formula that the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) is using to attract spectators to their events is broken and needs to be fixed. During the weekend, the AAG staged its flagship Senior Championships at the spanking new National Track and Field Centre at Leonora. It was witnessed by a sprinkling of spectators.
While there were a few outstanding performances by some of the athletes, the organizers failed miserably.
The meet was poorly attended and lacked exciting contests. The magnitude of the event alone should have at least garnered more attention from just the few hundred in attendance who were mostly coaches and athletes.
A scrubby football game at Back Circle would have attracted more onlookers.
The crowds were so thin during the weekend at Leonora that you have to wonder if the Aubrey Hutson-led AAG will think long and hard about hosting a championship there again any time soon. The attendance for both days fell below 400.
To say a lot more public relations by the AAG has to be done is to say that Usain Bolt is just a tall Jamaican.
The abysmal attendance could be due to the lack of advertising, the location of the synthetic facility which is about 17 miles from the city and the inclement weather.
The powers that be must convene and discuss how they can make athletics more interesting and fan friendly and, at the same time, offer good competitive outings to athletes who are in the rung below world class.
Serious questions must be asked. Is the location of the venue a huge hurdle for spectators? Is May month ideal for staging the championships? Can the event be held just for one day instead of two?
The bottom line now seems to be this: Get more people in the seats. (Emmerson Campbell)
