By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor 
Lawrence
HEAD OF the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the IAAF/Coca-Cola World Junior Championship in Athletics, Dr. Vin Lawrence, said yesterday the organisers were on track for the July 16-21 meet.
Dr. Lawrence was speaking at the launch of 'Countdown to Kingston 2002' at the Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus yesterday.
"There is no doubt that there is a lot of work still to be done but it is all planned. We have had all the IAAF representatives here working with us and inspecting what we are doing and we are pretty confident," Lawrence said.
The chairman of the LOC for Kingston 2002 said compromises had been worked out with the IAAF with regards to new stadium stipulations decided on by the world track and field bosses last year. One new rule states that the infield and running track should be of equal height.
Dr. Lawrence said the LOC and IAAF have met on the matter.
"Some of these stipulations are new and will relate mainly to new facilities. What we have done with the IAAF is work out a compromise just as they did in Australia last year whereby for existing facilities you graded some areas but not do other areas and that's exactly what we are going to be doing. Everything does not need to be at the same level based on the arrangements we are having," he said.
A new track for the championships should be completed in March. Dr. Lawrence said work has already started on the laying of the track.
"Work has commenced with regards to taking up the old track. We have got to remove all that is there now and put in a new base," he said.
The annual Boys and Girls Championships, tentatively set for April 16-20, will not be held before the new track is laid. Work on seating and a second set of long and triple jump pits on the bleachers side of the National Stadium will commence after the high school meet.
Minister of Tourism and Sport Portia Simpson Miller officially launched the Countdown and in doing so called for full support of the meet from all Jamaicans.
More than 2,000 athletes from about 150 member federations of the IAAF are expected for the meet, the first major world track and field championships to be held in Jamaica.
