Visionary Team outlines platform

With just a few days before the much anticipated Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) elections, the Visionary Team, led by immediate past president Mike Sands has listed its agenda and platform for the association for the next three years.

The elections are set for this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Ministry of Education Building on Thompson Bou-levard.

"We decided to provide the public and voters once again, with the names of the team members as well as the platform they are running on," read a Visionary Team statement.

The members of the Visionary Team are: Mike Sands, president; Shervin Stuart, first vice president; Felix Seymour, second vice president (Grand Bahama); Laura Pratt-Charlton, treasurer; Alpheus Finlayson, public relations; Tim Munnings, general secretary; Donovan Turnquest, assistant secretary; Rupert Gardiner, technical director; Bernard Newbold, statistician; Foster Dorsett, special projects; and Linda Thompson, special projects.

"Members of this team have a proven track record in successfully planning, organizing, and executing events," the statement continued

"They are experienced in fundraising and have respect and credibility with corporate Bahamas as well as private donors. Tim Munnings is an Olympian who anchored the gold medal men's 1600m relay team at the 2001 IAAF Edmonton World Champion-ships.

"Shervin Stuart was once a vice president of the federation. Donovan Turnquest was once a secretary general of the BAAA, and Rupert Gardiner has coached numerous Olympic and World Championship teams.

"The Visionary Team has three BAAA presidents, Finlayson, Dorsett, and Sands. Finlayson served on the Council of the IAAF, was vice president of NACAC, and currently serves as third vice president of the Central American and Caribbean Athletic Confederation. He served as the Public Relations Director of the BAAA from 1977-1985. From 1989-1997 he served as president of the federation, and is the second longest serving president after Dr. Bernard Nottage, who served from 1976-1989.

"Sands is one of the best sprinters The Bahamas has ever produced. He is currently on the council of NACAC, and is a vice president of the Bahamas Olympic Associa-tion. He has served in the BAAA Executive since 1989."

Some of the key points in the Visionary Team's 40-plus page platform are: put athletes first.

Work closely with local and foreign based Bahamian coaches.

Continuous development of current and new clubs nationally.

Institute a National Training Centre with adequate equipment.

Provide professional, medical, nutritional, fitness, psychological, and speech and image support for athletes.

Initiate a National Talent Search program to discover and refine those 'Diamonds In The Rough.'

Improve training and certification for coaches with the emphasis on primary and high school coaches.

Concentrate on improving field events and middle distances.

Provide cash incentives to coaches and clubs for home based student-athletes performing at regional and international competitions.

Re-establish the Bahamian Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Make optimum use of new state of the art stadium by hosting Bahamas Invitational, a one-day meet annually from 2011, bidding for IAAF World Youth Championships in 2013 or IAAF World Junior Championships in 2014.

Have a Bahamian become an International Technical Official (ITO) by 2016 or next available date.

Establish an Endowment Fund

Sands was ousted by a vote of 22-19 in October, 2008, but according to the team, several of those persons who voted to oust Sands are now actively campaigning for his return to the presidency.

© 2009 The Freeport News