André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Dr Walton Small (left), president of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), and Colleen Montaque (centre), chairperson of ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, receive a symbolic cheque from GraceKennedy's global brand manager for GK Food Division, Anthony Lawrence, at yesterday's launch of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew. - Ricardo Makyn

A new century of local high school track and field competition was ushered in yesterday at the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel, as the 101st Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships was launched.

With a complete budget of just under $50 million, considerably more than the over $30 million that was spent in 2010, this year's staging of the March 30-April 2 meet will be one of the most expensive yet, with the rental cost of the National Stadium ($6 million) and security expenses accounting for the bulk of the budget.

"The overall budget is just under $50 million, and thanks to the sponsors we are able to cover a significant portion of that, and we are hoping that the rest will come from gate receipts," explained ISSA president, Dr Walton Small.

"The stadium rental is running approximately $6 million, that is a major expenditure. Support for volunteers in terms of food and hospitality will account for $4 million, and there are some other big items on the budget."

tickets

Four new events have been added to the schedule this year: the 2000m men and women steeplechase, the Class I boys decathlon and the open javelin throw.

In terms of tickets, the first two days of competition will see entrance being made available to the grandstand section only at a cost of $300 for adults and $100 for children. On Friday, grandstand seats will attract a cost of $1,300 and $2,000 on Saturday.

Five hundred dollars will get you a seat in the bleachers section on Friday, while on Saturday, tickets to this section will cost $1,000. Students will be able to purchase tickets at a discounted rate from their respective schools.