ASAJ boss hopes for new year with fans in the stands
Published:Thursday | December 30, 2021 | 12:06 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
THE AQUATIC Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) is hoping it will be allowed to have fans for swim meets early in the new year.
ASAJ president, Martin Lyn, said having fans will not only help to attract much-needed sponsorship but will also motivate athletes to perform at an optimum, and that the association is putting together a proposal to submit to the Government in January.
After more than a year without competitive swimming because of the coronavirus, the ASAJ was granted government approval to host meets in May, under strict protocols and without spectators.
Lyn said his organisation is still operating under the approvals from that document, but will be submitting a new one in January to include spectator attendance.
“We plan to apply to host more meets. By the end of January, February our calendar gets very busy and we definitely want to open the pool to ensure that swim meets can be held again.
“We are still surviving on the last application we made, which allows us to have swim meets. We have not sent any new applications but certainly, early in January, we will be sending the applications to include spectators.
“We hope the powers that be see it fit to allow spectators with all of the different protocols in place.
“We will apply to start with a small number of spectators so that we can generate some sponsorship because sponsors like when spectators are around.
“When that happens, we can look at increasing the number during the course of the year,” he said.
FIND MIDDLE GROUND
While cognisant that spectators could pose a serious health risk, he insists that a middle ground can be found.
“We know what is happening worldwide and locally and we plan for the best and for the worst.
“It has been three years that the [COVID-19] situation is with us and we have to try to find a way to live with it and with all of the various protocols and things that need to be done.
“We don’t want to endanger any athletes, officials or fans but at the same time, there has to be a middle ground.
“We cannot continue to just hibernate and at the same time, we cannot stupidly infect others or get infected ourselves, so we have to find a middle ground somewhere,” he argued.
He added that having the fans in the venue will be a boost to the swimmers to put in the type of performances that will help prepare them for upcoming regional and international competitions.
“We are hoping that we can get more and more spectators involved and then we would look towards the regional games, the Carifta Games at Easter in Barbados. Then the CCCAN Games and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“We are optimistic they will allow a skeleton number of spectators to test the waters and see how we can manage.
“And hopefully we will get an increase as we go forward until we can revive the whole programme over time.
“The fans mean everything. Fans are the backbone of the emotional push athletes rely on in any sport.
“Fans support the athletes. When athletes hear the fans cheering, it helps motivate them.
“In addition, when you have your friends and family watching you want to do well. So it is always good to have some support because that support normally pushes you to do better,” he said.