REPUTATIONS DISAPPEAR !
In K.A.A. we have tried to develop a reputation for reliability (of athletes and coaches) and honesty. Last week (story elsewhere) we suffered the loss of our booking for the annual Pentathlon. Although the date (Oct. 13th.) had been booked with the Ministry Sport Office in January, they failed to inform an organisation trying to make a last-minute booking that a booking already existed. Thus that organisation went ahead with its arrangements and took the venue by force of numbers. We were also told that, under "a new system", all prior bookings were "provisional" until confirmed by payment to the Ministry. This "system" is so new that no-one in sport federations knew about it, until a memo was circulated, with immediate effect, dated Oct. 16th. By 'phone we arranged payment for our postponed Pentathlon, to be held on Oct. 20th. instead.
Instead of this now being our confirmed booking, the KIFA (Football) organisation had issued invitations and involved a number of Primary Schools in a new competition. Thus as we were setting up the Long Jump for the Pentathlon, numerous young footballers arrived. Of course, the Sport Office had not told KIFA about our confirmed booking, and of course there was no-one from the Sport Office present to adjudicate !
COMPROMISE.
Fortunately for KAA, the KIFA members agreed to a delay to their proceedings. We managed to start the Long Jump by 8.15 am., and continued with Javelin, 200m., Discus, and 1000m. as prescribed. (We shortened the final event.) Thus we finished by 9.45 am., having completed all the events in ninety minutes !
RABANGAKI SUPREME (except in the 1000m. !!)
As should be expected of the Micronesian multi-events champion, Rabangaki managed four good performances with an average of over 600 points. For the first four events he achieved 5.68m. (646 pts.), 42.15m. (530 pts.), 23.7 (726 pts.), and 34.08m. (563 pts.) Taking over 4 minutes for the 1000m. brought him no points reward ! Thus a total of 2465.
Three other males contested the Pentathlon, Tearoba Takeruru running a 23.9 200m. (702 pts.) He totalled 1836 to take second. For the other three, the field events were a challenge or even new !!! Nevertheless they completed the competition.
CERTIFICATES.
Each received a certificate showing their separate performances and overall result. Thanks to them and to Karakoa and Rianimarewe for their assistance on the day.
FEMALE COMPETITOR.
Young athlete Mareta Berenato attempted the first two events but did not complete the others. A pity !
UNFAIR on the ATHLETES.
Actions of the responsible Ministry as on the last two Saturdays forced us to have problems with other users. A new system of payment will NOT solve the problem of those who invent a new competition and need to use the same space at short notice. For the five athletes today, who had to listen to the P.A. system announcing the delay as the fault of K.A.A., plus the lack of rest or preparation time, it was very unfair and they did well to keep their efforts going. This chronic problem needs to be discussed by the main stake-holders to produce a fair and workable procedure which all agree to and know.
Last Modified on 20/10/2007 09:58