Athletes in action at last year's Gibson Relays. - File

Organisers of the high-profile Gibson Relays are faced with a dilemma as the meet looks set to be cancelled this year due to a glitch in the renovation exercise of the track at the National Stadium.

A delay in the delivery of the material needed to complete refurbishing work on the track at the National Stadium, has led to major question signs over this year's staging of the high-profile event.

Heavy snow and general poor weather in sections of Europe, have led to the delay of the materials, which were being shipped from Germany and were originally scheduled to arrive in the island sometime this week.

With no possibility of their arrival before January 22 and the actual laying of the material expected to last about two months, it is quite clear that the February 26 meet, which has been staged on 34 occasions will either be postponed or cancelled.

Chief organiser Neville 'Teddy' McCook, who was expected to join other committee members at a meeting to discuss the development last night, hinted at the latter and pointed to the packed Jamaica Amateur Athletic Asso-ciation (JAAA) calendar as a main deterrent to any chance of a postponement.

massive blow

"It's a massive blow I must say but nevertheless we have never tried to intrude on anyone else's date," said McCook. "It's a long season this year but as it stands we would have to cancel but it's something that we will evaluate nonetheless."

"We have never asked anyone to abandon their date, if we miss we miss and we cancel and move on. I have asked the (JAAA) president to look at the calendar and though this is something we would have to put to the committee, we want to see who has the 12th of March and even though it's cutting it close, it a consideration," McCook pointed out.

Major Desmon Brown, chairman of Independence Park Limited, the state-run agency that has responsibility for the facility, confirmed the delay and gave an overview of the situation.

"The material for the National Stadium track will definitely not arrive in the island before January 22," said Brown. "It was originally scheduled to arrive in the first week of January but the weather situation in Europe has caused a delay."

"The work schedule that we are looking at right now is definitely going to affect the Gibson Relays. We are working with the suppliers to see if we can make some adjustment to the work plan; work longer days to see if we can finish in time. No decision has been taken at this point but there are obvious quality concerns, we definitely don't want to rush it and so forth but right now Gibson Relays definitely looks like an issue.