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Athletics SA (ASA) and its commercial partners are working feverishly to ensure that the Athletix Grand Prix series goes ahead as planned in April.
Asked what would happen should the organisation fail to secure a sponsor in time for the much-vaunted track and field event – the first of the three-leg series, scheduled to start on April 9 – ASA president Aleck Skhosana said that alternative plans were being considered.
Two of the potential sponsors that the organisation was approaching in case of an emergency are the National Lotteries Board and the department of sport and recreation.
Skhosana said the body could also do with the help of ASA’s 17 provincial affiliates.
He confirmed that the event would start on April 9, saying: “Whatever happens, this event has to take place.”
Skhosana insisted that ASA’s commercial agents, Stillwater Sports, were engaging some companies that had expressed an interest in coming on board.
“Obviously, we are disappointed at the turn of events, but we are determined to provide the platform for our athletes – with or without sponsorship,” Skhosana told City Press.
This is in reference to the multimillion-rand sponsorship deal with telecommunications company Liquid Telecom that collapsed before the end of its three-year term.
The agreement, said to be worth about R20 million, was valid until 2020, but was terminated after the first series.
The sponsorship was launched with great fanfare at the end of 2017, with a prize pool of more than R1.3 million at stake in the glamorous series.
The matter is now the subject of a dispute, says ASA.
“We cannot dump the series just like that,” said Skhosana. “Hence, our commercial agents, Stillwater Sports, are currently engaging some corporates, which are keen to come on board.”
He pointed to ASA’s ability to stage some of its major one-day events, such as the Night Series, despite a limited budget.
He said the federation was also encouraged by the interest shown by ASA’s international counterparts, who were keen for an invitation to be issued so that they could send their athletes to compete in the grand prix series.
Reigning world 100m champion Justin Gatlin of the US was one of the marquee athletes invited to the event last year.
Meanwhile, Skhosana said that this year’s ASA Senior Track and Field Championships would be staged at Germiston Stadium in Ekurhuleni.
The event, which will take place later in April, will be used as a qualifying event for the IAAF World Championships, taking place in Doha, Qatar, from September 27 to October 6.
