The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net With the new Thomas A Robinson Stadium not yet officially certified by the IAAF, the first Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational will now be staged at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on Saturday, April 14. National 400 metre record holder Brown, who is organising the $300,000 plus meet, said he was only informed on Monday that he won't be able to hype up the new stadium and show it off to the world. "Now I have to take it to Grand Bahama and show them that they can get the same opportunity to see the world-class athletes compete in person, who they only get to see on television," he said. Brown said he had a list of some 60 plus athletes who were eager to make the trek here. But with the change in venue, it's going to require some additional money to ensure that everybody is able to travel to Grand Bahama as opposed to just stopping in New Providence. Among the list of competitors who have confirmed to compete in the invitational are St Kitts' national record holder Kim Collins, Americans Wallace Spearmon, Justin Gatlin, Darvis Patton, Angela Taylor, David Oliver and Kerron Clement and Dominican Republic's Felix Sanchez. Both "Golden Girls" Chandra Sturrup and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, along with Brown's local rivals in the 400, triple jumper Leevan 'Superman' Sands and high jumpers Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry, are all expected to make up the list of local competitors . "It's going to be an exciting event," Brown said. But he noted that he has to let the agents and coaches know about the change in plans with the new stadium not yet available. "I was not expecting this type of movement because now I have to let the agents and the coaches know that all of the plans have changed. "Some of them have already made plans to make one stop right in New Providence. But I have to revamp everything. I know we will have to bring in some more bleachers and we have to take some equipment to Grand Bahama." Brown said he knows that the fans in New Providence are going to be disappointed because he won't be able to hold the meet in the new $30 million stadium. "It's a little sad and disappointing but everything happens for a reason and I'm not going to let the change in venue get me down," he said. "I'm going to move forward with it. All of the athletes and my collegiates are ready to compete in it regardless of where it's at. I still think it will be a successful event even though it will be held in Grand Bahama." While he's busy training and preparing to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, next week for the 13th IAAF World Indoor Championships, Brown said he will be relying on a committee led by Ralf McKinney, Dianne Woodside, Marco Armbrister and Jeff Rodgers to get most of the logistics sorted out. The Ministry of Tourism's Sports Division, headed by Tyrone Sawyer, has agreed to help out and Brown said he's hoping that he can get the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to make a contribution as well. "We have a nice little staff, but it's going to be tight," said Brown about getting the meet off the ground. "I'm not going to bite off more than I can chew. After the Indoor World Championships is over, I will come to the Bahamas and hustle it because I wasn't expecting the change in venue. But I have to do what I have to do." Brown said his ultimate goal is to bring London 2012 to the Bahamas for those spectators who won't get the opportunity to travel to the Olympic Games in August. "It will cost around $300,000 to pull this one off but the figure could be higher because we have to take it to Grand Bahama," Brown said. "That is low compared to the level of competition that I've been to. I'm hoping that corporate sponsors and the Bahamian public will help to generate the necessary funding. I'm hoping that the whole Bahamas will help me because this is a Bahamian thing and I want them to feel a part of this."