The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has indicated they could bid to take over the hosting of World Athletics Under-20 Championships after Lima, Peru, withdrew from their hosting responsibilities earlier this week.

On Wednesday World Athletics announced they would be exploring the possibility of finding new hosts after the South American city asked to be relieved of their duties “due to circumstances beyond its control”.

The release said World Athletics had been informed by the Peruvian Athletics Association that “recent political instability and social unrest as well as natural disasters in Peru have left the federation and the local organising committee unable to stage the event next year”.

Garth Gayle, president of the JAAA, told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday that Jamaica could take up the hosting of the event.

“Jamaica, like all other members of the World Athletics family, would have noted the withdrawal of Lima, Peru, as hosts of the World Under-20 Championships [and] Jamaica stands ready to assist in whatever way we can in hosting the event,” he said.

Gayle also hastened to say that hosting the championships set for August 26-31 would take a lot of money and he would first need to discuss it with his executive and also with the Minister of Sports, Olivia “Babsy” Grange.

Jamaica hosted the 2002 staging of the “World Junior Championships” and had stepped in as host of the 49th Carifta Games last year, the latter being hailed as one of the best organised in the history of the regional championship.

— Paul A Reid