Ryon Jones, Star Writer

Contractual obligations have forced organisers of the ISSA Boys and Girls' Champs to thoroughly scrutinise devices that are taken to the National Stadium annually and ban those that can be used for recording purposes, many of which include cameras.

The move has, however, not found favour with a group of spectators that travel to the event from abroad yearly. ISSA is concerned about infringing on the broadcast rights of one of the event's sponsors.

According to Junior Simpson, who is a part of a group comprising Kingston College and Calabar Old Boys, from the New York chapters, the return home to attend the mega track and field event each year is a cherished occasion and, as such, they should not be prevented from entering the public event with their cameras.

"Last year, for the first two days, we didn't have a problem with security, because we don't have an issue with them checking us for security reasons, but the third day which was the Friday I walked in with my still camera and this policeman, who is a sergeant, told me I can't go in there as the officials said nobody should bring cameras inside," Simpson said.

"The gist of my complaint is that I don't want to be bothered when I come to the stadium along with my party, because a lot of us are coming down to support the event.

He added: "We have friends that we haven't seen for over 20 years, and us going to champs is a good way of taking pictures and stuff like that. We just want to be allowed the freedom of taking our cameras in there; we are not going to go there and interfere with their programme."

Simpson, who has been attending the championship for the past 20 years, said he along with 13 others have already booked their tickets for the March 28-31 event, but three of his friends have decided to stay away based on last year's experience.

President of ISSA, Walton Small, nevertheless remains adamant that unless it can be proven that the device is only able to take still pictures it will not be allowed into the venue.

"We have to be able to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that it is only a still camera, but once we think it is a recording device, you are not allowed to take it, because we must protect ourselves," Small said.

"We can be sued and sued seriously for breach of contract if we don't protect our exclusive provider."

He added: "Some of the individuals at the gate might not be able to discern (if it is a still camera or video camera) and if we can't safely say that, we are not going to take the chance. If we can determine that it is not a video camera then it is not a problem."

Public Defender Earl Witter, speaking based on his general knowledge of contracts being that he is not privy to the terms agreed upon by ISSA and the particular communications outfit, deems the body's position as neither "unreasonable or unlawful."

"The relationship between ISSA, the organisers and promoters and members of the public who are admitted to the event sounds in line with the law of contract," Witter said.

Certain terms

"ISSA is agreeing that they will admit members of the public, but upon certain terms. It is up to the members of the public who wish to go whether they will accept those terms or no," he added.

In an effort to foster an amicable solution, Witter suggested that ISSA could, prior to the event, issue licences to persons wishing to take equipment into the venue after it has been determined that these pieces of equipment do not have recording capabilities.

"Upon entering the gates, persons would present their licences and that licence would identify that particular piece of equipment," Witter said.

"They could also have some place in the stadium complex where you can take your equipment and it is checked and a licence is issued before you go through the turnstile. It may be that because of the expense of setting up the regime a small fee could be charged," he added.