A lack of financial commitment has forced the organisers of the Queen’s/Grace Jackson meet to cancel what would have been the 24th staging of the event at the National Stadium on January 31.

Organising Committee Chairperson Olive McNaughton confirmed the cancellation of the meet, saying “it was a tough decision to make, but up to two to three weeks ago we had not had any commitments from sponsors”.

It is the second major development meet to be cancelled as the Western Relays, set to be held at GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport on Saturday, February 14, was also scrapped because of uncertainty over the availability of the track at the Angels, St Catherine, venue.

McNaughton said the cost of renting the venue for the day, about $800,000, which was a major portion of the approximately $2-million budget, was a contributing factor.

“We have been trying to restructure and reorganise the meet for a few years now,” she told the Jamaica Observer, “and when I returned to the organising committee last year, this was one of the priorities, but it has been a tough last two to three years.”

Added to their already difficult financial burdens, McNaughton said a number of “big teams” have failed to honour their commitments, as well, by not paying entry fees.

McNaughton said they contacted potential sponsors, some of who had made commitments but they were not able to confirm.