By Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Karl Wright (left) president and chief executive officer of sponsors Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) and Inter-Secondary Schools' Sports Association (ISSA) president Clement Radcliffe. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer.

FLAG-BEARING supporters at this year's Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships, will have to find new and creative ways in which to support their schools in the searing sun without any umbrellas.

This was revealed by Clement Radcliffe, president of the Inter Secondary Schools Association (ISSA), who said as part of the new security measures no sticks and umbrellas will be allowed into the National Stadium.

"Our main issue though is security. A number of things have been banned from the stadium. No flags with sticks, umbrellas and no bottles," he told The Gleaner.

"We are going to enforce this. We will have a special squad to patrol the bleachers to ensure that persons adhere to our request. We are also asking the schools to police their specific areas," said Radcliffe, also principal of Glenmuir High School.

"There will be a special squad to parade outside also," he added.

The 95th annual Boys' Championship and seventh combined championship which begins tomorrow at the National Stadium will cost the organisers $3 million to host the four-day event in the National Stadium but Radcliffe is confident the prestigious event will pull in the crowd to overcome the cost.

"The rental of the stadium is still massive, but because of the success of champs we will be able to afford it but we are encouraging persons to be there to ensure that we don't end up with a deficit," said Radcliffe.

The ISSA president is upbeat.

GOING FAIRLY WELL

"Things are going fairly well. In most areas things are working quite effectively. Where there were some difficulties we have resolved them," he said.

Another security measure that will be enforced is that no one will be allowed to stand in the aisles as with international rules all persons should be seated and celebrations will be limited to certain areas.

"We want persons to come early and find a seat, no standing in the aisle and just enjoy the sport so we can have a good time. There will be areas identified as sterile areas. So there will be limited celebrations. We have invited the schools that we expect to win, to have their management team standing by."

ISSA will also be using the big screen to the north of the facility to identify persons entering the stadium illegally over the walls.

"The video board will be used to highlight anyone scaling the fence and they will be identified".

There will be no rule change to the events but only a slight adjustment in the weights of the discus and shot put equipment. The proposal of reducing, from three, the number of individual events one athlete can compete in was not taken on board by ISSA this year.

Over the years a number of talented athletes, especially in Class Three, participated and dominated three or more events but a significant number have failed to stamp their class or even win an event in Class One.