BIRMINGHAM, England — The withdrawals of several experienced athletes, including World Championships 200m champion Shericka Jackson, and complaints from some about conditions inside the athletes village at the University of Birmingham have left Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Team Manager Ludlow Watts in search of solutions, two days before the start of competition.

Watts admitted that there was some unease among members of the track and field team at the Commonwealth Games concerning accommodation arrangements and other issues such as the per diem rate being presented to them.

He shared that he will be meeting with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) to see how best to address the issues as soon as possible.

“We had a meeting last night with the athletes and there were a number of issues that were raised and we’re actually liaising with the JOA with a view to having all those matters rectified. We enter into competition soon and I want that by the end of Sunday we’ll be focusing on just track and field and the process of doing well,” said Watts.

“It’s important that we are comfortable and we are doing our utmost to ensure that all things are in place because when the competition starts it has to be just about competition, success, and doing well,” he added.

Athletes staying in a specific building in the village expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of bathroom facilities and the cleanliness of the carpets in the space. They have also taken issue with the value of the daily allowance being offered, which is believed to be less than £20.

It should be noted that accommodation arrangements are handled by the Local Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Jamaica’s Chef de Mission Rudolph Speid has indicated to the JAAA that he is willing to meet and discuss the issues.

Meanwhile, the track and field team will also have to do without Jackson and her MVP teammates Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Natasha Morrison, who have all pulled out of the Games.

MVP Track Club president, Bruce James, confirmed to the Jamaica Observer that an e-mail was sent to the JOA and JAAA yesterday informing them of the development.

Doubts were initially raised about the availability of Jackson, after it was revealed that she is down to compete in the half-lap event at a Diamond League meet in Poland, which starts on August 6, just four days after the start of the track and field competition in Birmingham.

There are also doubts around whether discus standout Fedrick Dacres will be competing in Birmingham.

Dacres, the 2019 World Championships silver medal winner and defending Commonwealth Games champion was left off the final list of entries for the event but eventually appeared to be listed to compete here.

“He [Dacres] is on some start list so I’m going to actually deal with the matter now, and once that is confirmed [that he is able to compete here] we are going to do everything to get him flown in immediately,” Watts said.

“He was on the list initially, but then he was off, and in the final list that was submitted he was not included, and despite our efforts, and the JOA indicated that they had made a significant effort as well but know that this matter has come up [Dacres’ name appearing on an entry list for the event], I’m going directly to deal with it at this moment,” Watts said.

Watts described Birmingham 2022 as his most challenging experience as team manager to date, and believes that preventative measures must be put in place to avoid a repeat of some of the issues faced.

“We have still not reached a position where we can say that everybody is in the village. There are a number of things that are still actively taking place day by day, but I hope that by the end of Sunday I will be in a position to see exactly who will be competing the events and all those details that are required,” Watts said.

“Coming up to today’s date, this is perhaps the most challenging time I have experienced as a team manager. Well, last year the Olympics was pretty challenging, but this one has far exceeded that. It has been a very rough journey, but I hope all these will be behind us and that we will put in place certain things, we will ensure that things like these don’t really happen again, but we are actually doing everything that we can at this moment to ensure that the athletes are comfortable,” Watts shared.

Athletics will get underway at Alexander Stadium on Tuesday.