AAASL clears major hurdle
The Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AAASL) broke its brief silence this week with a triple jump development.
According to Shemal Fernando, the AAASL secretary, the headquarters of the athletic governing body has been relocated at Torrington, few meters away from their previous premises. The AAASL officials entered their new headquarters as a recognised governing body after the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) recognised the Sri Lankan officials for the first time since taking office in March. This has also prompted the AAASL officials to hold the forthcoming 90th National Athletic Championship in grand style with minimum IAAF requirements for an international meet on the show.
The new athletic headquarters is located at 100/8, Foundation Avenue in Torrington, next to the proximity of Ministry of Sports. Fernando told the Sunday Times that this location was granted to them after making a formal request to the Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
“We briefed the minister and other top officials that the athletic governing should be ideally located at the Sugathadasa Stadium, so the athletes would have all the possibilities of training. We were on the run looking for a suitable place until we were offered this place. Then we moved here soon afterwards. But we are yet to receive a clear reply from the top officials on the subsistence of this location and our request,” revealed Fernando who said that athletics is all about running.
In addition soon after the end of the London Olympics, the IAAF cleared AAASL from its ‘unconvinced’ list. Earlier in April, IAAF failed to recognise the newly appointed local officials based on a petition made by an individual and it went on to the level of Sri Lanka almost being stripped off the hosting rights of the 15th Asian Junior Athletic Championship which was however held in June as planned. The Asian Athletic Association, who also did not recognise the Sri Lankan officials earlier this year, later changed its stance and assisted the local officials to hold the Asian Junior Athletic Championship.
Fernando also revealed that AAASL has held 12 executive committee meetings, three general committee meetings and a special general meeting during the phase of six months with intentions of streamlining the local body. This programme is also aimed at divulging responsibilities among all officials and committees on their way to hold a democratic election when the present set of officials’ tenure ends in March 2013. Apparently the IAAF also has mentioned these points in their communiqué to the AAASL which officially stated that it recognises its Sri Lankan affiliation after a council meeting held in London prior to the Olympics. “The IAAF has stated we can box on and continue with our endeavours until March 2013. It is officially confirmed that they have recognised us as a duly elected body after so many verifications and vindications with the IAAF chief Lamim Diack, general secretary Essar Gabriel and the Asian secretary Maurice Nicholas,” Fernando added.
With these developments Fernando further said that the AAASL is planning to stage the 90th National Championship in November fulfilling IAAF requirements.
“For the first time in history there Nationals will be held in the fashion of an international event, with digital clock boards, quick official results and other facilities available at any big event. We are planning to make it another mini Olympic event in order to achieve our goals.”
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