GraceKennedy's Group CEO, Don Wehby (second left), is joined by Group Chief Financial Officer, Fay McIntosh (left), and ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships chairperson Colleen Montaque (second right), as she presented a sponsorship cheque to ISSA president, Dr Walton Small, during a function at the Terra Nova Hotel yesterday. - Ian Allen

Security is a serious issue for organisers of this month's centenary staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships scheduled for the National Stadium, March 24-27.

With a sizeable portion of the well over $30 million that has been set aside for the staging of this year's spectacle channelled towards the security arrangement that will be employed at the four-day meet, a clear message has been sent that nothing will be taken for granted.

Dr Walton Small, the man who has been charged with the affairs of organiser, Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA).

"It's (Champs) going to be very expensive and we are going all out to make it a special championship. The overall budget is somewhere over $30 million. Security is not quite half of the budget but it's a very significant portion," Small said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Jervis Taylor, who will be in charge of the operations at the National Stadium during the event, underlined the seriousness being applied towards the securing of the meet.

rules and systems

"We are very serious about the security at the championships and I implore everyone to comply with the rules and systems that have been put in place because if they don't, then we will do what is necessary to get them to comply," said Taylor.

"Law enforcement around Champs transcends what goes on at the stadium, so in this regard, we are delighted to be working with ISSA towards the provision of law-enforcement services."

prohibited items

The lawman implored patrons to observe the list of items, which will be prohibited from being taken into the venue such as pointed tip umbrellas, glass bottles and firearms while adding that the venue will be considered a sterile area, with even the police personnel patrolling without their firearms.

Some of the details surrounding Champs 100 were announced at a function at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in New Kingston yesterday and ISSA chairman Dr Walton Small took the opportunity to underline the meet's importance to the development of Jamaican athletics.

Tickets for the four-day meet went on sale yesterday with season tickets being made available to the public at a cost of $4,500 (premium) and $3,500 (category 2).

Other tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 19, one week before the championships at the following costs: On the first and second days of the meet, children will pay $100 while adults will pay $300 to gain access to the National Stadium.

On Friday, it will cost $1,300 for access to the grandstand and $500 for bleachers tickets. A special rate of $350 will be made available to schools during this day as well. Saturday's all-action final day will attract ticket prices of $2,000 and $2,500 for the grandstand area and $1,000 for the bleachers.