By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
The property at 6 Tremaine Road, Kingston 6, which will house the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA). - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
THE NEW executive of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) is off and running with the acquisition of a multimillion-dollar home of its own.
This and other JAAA initiatives were disclosed at a press conference yesterday at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.
It was made public that the JAAA has a contract to purchase the property at 6 Tremaine Road, Kingston 6, close to the National Stadium, at a cost of $10 million to house its operations.
President Howard Aris said as soon as the organisation decides on the structural plans and design of the facility, they will be disclosed to the media.
SELECTION CRITERIA ADJUSTED
Meanwhile, the Neville 'Teddy' McCook-led selection committee has adjusted the national selection criteria.
It now states that athletes must return home for the National Championships as selection to the team will be the top three athletes in all events providing they have attained the qualifying 'A' standard times. A fourth person will be named as an alternate for individual events.
However, athletes who are ill or injured may be considered, but only if they have a top three world ranking at the time of the National Championships.
That person(s) will also have to prove their world ranking form and maintain/prove their competitive fitness prior to the final submission of the entries.
Another change is that reports from injured athletes' personal doctors will not be accepted.
The athletes will have to be examined by the JAAA's local medical team in order to be declared unfit not to compete in the Championships.
MEMBERS MUST BE PREPARED
After this examination, the doctors will recommend how soon the athletes will be capable of returning to competition.
As for relay selections, the top six finishers in 100m and 400m will be selected. The top three must be members of the relay teams and, once selected, all members must be prepared to participate.
Also the JAAA has registered a new website with a new domain called www.jaaaltd.com, which will be fully operational on March 31.
The website will have multi-media features such as audio. There will also be text with audio, graphic and movements and video.
It will also help to supply athletes with applications and entry forms.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
"We would like to congratulate ourselves in accomplishing three things on the manifesto in the first quarter of the administration," Aris said.
Although it was outlined in the JAAA's press release that important information on the Steve Mullings' drug case would be disclosed, Aris was surprised when journalists touched on that topic.
Aris said until they get a ruling from Dr. Alfred Sangster's committee, the JAAA could not say much.
