Asia-Pacific Grand Prix eyed next year

Beo Ngirchongor, left, sprints after getting the baton from Orrin Pharmin during the 4x100m relay race in the 2014 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei. Athletes from Micronesia and the rest of the Pacific will have a chance to complete in an international level event next year when Oceania Athletics Association launches the Asia-Pacific Grand Prix. (Contributed Photo)

OAA president Geoff Gardner said he is working closely with the IAAF, Asian Athletics Association, and former two-time Olympic Gold medalist Lord Sebastian Coe of Great Britain in organizing a high-level circuit event between Asian and Oceania athletes in the Pacific.

“[This is] to further promote our sport within our respective regions and internationally. This is designed to lessen our reliance on the IAAF for funding,” said Gardner, who added that currently the OAA’s projects and activities are 100 percent funded by the IAAF.

“The purpose of including Asia is to ensure TV coverage of the circuit and to secure funding via broadcast rights, which Asia seems confident of delivering,” he said.

The funds that will come from the broadcast rights and other sponsorship deals will provide for the prize money and support the participation of athletes from small nations.

Gardner said part of the money collected from the circuit race would also fund OAA’s various activities in the region.

The OAA head added they want to secure additional funding for each of the area associations so they can continue to deliver and improve the current level of their athletes and provide educational and technical services to member federations.

The Asia-Pacific project, part of OAA’s Strategic Plan early this year and approved by the IAAF, is a six-week competition circuit in the Asia-Pacific region that will be held between April and May.

Gardner said the tournament is designed for Oceania athletes, especially those from small island nations, for them to experience competing against top athletes from Asia in an international level (like the European Grand Prix), but closer to home.

“We want to provide a higher level of competition for Asian and Oceania athletes without the need for them to travel to Europe and the US to get this standard of competition and at the same time attract a greater number of athletes from our area early in the season,” said Gardner.

He added the project would further promote athletics in Oceania and at the same time introduce Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

OAA will be forming a working group, which will be initially funded by the IAAF, to lay down the groundwork and organize the circuit race.

“It is currently a work in progress but it received solid support from athletes, officials and importantly the IAAF president and council. We’re waiting on funding considerations from the IAAF, which will not be available until later this year,” said Gardner.

Lamine Diack of Senegal is the current IAAF president, while Qatar’s Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad is the AAA chief. (Jon Perez)