How could this possibly be true? Published report says Bahamas govt spent $21 million on World Relays

Bribing IAAF officials to host it? DIdn't Australia spend like $50m on a trial balloon World Cup (or Olympics) bid?

That figure has to be wrong, this article says they spent $5mil USD on last years edition. A much more believable figure. I can't cite how foreigners this event attracts (seemed mainly locals or those from other island nations), but I actually went on my own dime last year. Not entirely relevant, but total for my trip was about $800.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2018/jul/06/dropped-no-cash-world-relays/

Because the IAAF corruption is expensive.

Hell f...ing no!

You can put on a global championship for nearly that amount.

Perhaps they are including some infrastructure cost.

The Tribune242 article also says this:

"Carey said that while The Bahamas won’t host the event on May 10-11, 2019, as originally planned, it’s not known who will pick up the baton and stage it next year. She said that she had spoken to IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe, and several countries have expressed an interest.

She indicated that Coe is expected to make a formal announcement on the cancellation by The Bahamas and the possible venue for the next host country by next week."

Any ideas of who could be in contention? Or would it be better if they just dropped the World Relays in general? I guess I kind of hoped that this could help revitalize the Penn Relays USA vs the World events, but who knows if the Relays is even interested in trying to get into that political space.

corruption

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=7956213

Everything government does cost way more than compared to the private sector.

https://youtu.be/XfAE5emMCs8

rojo wrote:

How could it possibly cost that much? Last year, we learned that the budget for the Bislett Games was $1.9 million after Exxon dropped and $2.4 million before. Why would the World Relays cost 10 times as much?

Was there a big stadium upgrade or something? But that doesn't make sense as it supposedly cost $15 million in 2014 and $21 million in 2016 (1 BSD = 1 USD).

The Jamacia Gleaner wrote:

The Bahamas is believed to be giving up hosting privilege because of what is considered the high cost of running the event. It is reported that The Bahamas spent BSD$15 million (J$1.9 billion) to host in 2014. It then spent an estimated BSD$21 million (J$2.7 billion) last year.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20180706/passing-baton-jamaica-still-hoping-take-world-relays-bahamas

If you read the article and the list of requirements I can see how it can add up if you have to build all the facilities listed. I am guessing that almost all the building materials have to be imported.

I am amused at the security requirement for IAAF officials. Really?

Did they have to build an athlete village? Did they have to build a warm up track?

Key IAAF requirements for nations seeking to host the World Relays:

VENUE:

- Minimum 10,000-seat stadium with Class 1 IAAF Athletics Facility Certificate and eight-lane track.

- All technical and functional areas, including call room(s), mixed zone, post event area, photo-finish control room, video recording room, results management room, doping control station, technical information centre, rest area for combined events athletes, and seats for coaches and teams.

- Warm-up facility with a 400m track - minimum six lanes.

- One training venue (could also be the warm-up).

- Installation of event venue decoration, at least two state-of-the-art video screens and quality sound system at the main stadium.

- Ensuring the main stadium is equipped with reliable and modern communication network, infrastructure and services.

- Ensuring the venue is provided commercially clean.

ACCOMMODATION:

- Securing rooms for athletes, officials, IAAF Family and media.

- Athletes and team officials: 1400 beds (300 single & 550 twin/double rooms).

- IAAF Family: 250 beds (150 single & 50 twin/double room).

- Media: 25 beds.

BROADCAST & MEDIA:

- Payment for the host broadcaster (to be appointed by the IAAF) to broadcast the entire event capped at US$350,000 (Ja$45 million).

- Provision of all broadcast and media facilities, equipment and services, including media and press centres, telecommunication and other communication facilities, accommodation and transportation, press conference facilities (including simultaneous translation) and accreditation services.

SECURITY:

- Development and implementation of a security plan including security personnel to protect and safeguard the event site and security and protection for members of the IAAF Family.

I went to the second day of the relay championships in Nassau last year. I can tell you where the costs were. First, accommodations there are not cheap. And so if you look at the numbers in the post above for a MULTI-day event. That adds up fast. And let's just say that there are a lot of IAAF freeloaders... a lot.

Second, transportation. I hopped on the shuttle buses to get to the stadium since my friends said it wasn't safe to walk to and from the stadium. There had to have been 50 or buses at the event.

Third, the tickets were expensive and so there were a lot of discounts for the locals.

Fourth, Bahamian local TV broadcast the event. They are part of the government and so that comes out of that budget.