MIRAMAR, Florida — Organisational hiccups and poor weather marred yesterday’s start of the Pan-American Junior Track and Field Championships at the Ansin Sports Complex here in this South Florida city.

After a heat wave that killed several persons over the past few weeks, thunderstorms and lightning rolled into the area on Thursday and yesterday’s start of the event was held up for about two hours — first by heavy rains then by lightning.

After the wet weather, the skies cleared and the scorching sun and humidity came back in full force.

While the weather was an act of God and out of the control of the organisers, several other shortcomings had members of the media and even athletes and coaching fuming.

Media members from several countries turned up to find no specified area for them to work from despite assurances that there was a tent in place. A search for the tent by Jamaican and American media personnel, turned up nothing.

The Observer and some members of the US media were, however, accommodated in the second floor room assigned to the announcers and meet statisticians.

A number of things that are customarily ready prior to the start of the championships were not in place until yesterday morning, including the website.

Efforts on Thursday to get lane draws and lane assignments for today’s start proved futile and media members were told to wait until yesterday morning.

However, the website was not operational until after the start of the meet yesterday and team officials were given one copy each of the lane assignments and revised order of event.

The Jamaica team officials also complained about the less than desirable accommodations that were offered to 33 of the 34 countries taking part at the three-day championships.

Most of the athletes and officials are accommodated at the north and south campuses of Florida International University, while members of the US team are staying at a five-star resort not far from the venue.

The close proximity of the venue did not prevent the driver of the bus transporting the Americans to the meet from getting lost yesterday morning.