THE newly acquired Fully Automatic Timing System (FATS) that was sourced by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) could be in use as soon as next month when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosts the National Senior Championship. 

According to AAG president, Aubrey Hutson, with the machine finally here, the AAG is hoping to be able to have it in use as soon as possible, and the National Seniors will most likely inaugurate the machine’s utilisation in Guyana.
The National Senior Championship was previously set to be held just before the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic, however, the close proximity of the two events saw the AAG pushing back the date.
And while a definitive date remains tentative, Hutson affirmed that, should conditions permit, the meet will be held next month.
This will be the first time that the electronic device, which automatically records the timings that are run in a race, will be used here.
Up until now, timings have been manually recorded by officials at the finishing line, while the race is set off by another official operating a gun.
This manual system has over the years been a matter of contention as the accuracy is often disputed. Because of the manual system, Guyanese athletes were disenfranchised from recording officially accepted timings on home soil since the world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), only recognises timings set in a sprint that has been timed by the FAT system.
However, those days are now a thing of the past now that Guyana has received this “big boost”.
“It’s a big boost in getting our timings up to IAAF compliance, it’s going to ensure that we have authentic timings here, which will better reflect the athletes’ performance and the IAAF will accept our timings now.” Hutson said.
With the system now ready, the only need for human resource will now be for the operation of the equipment, a procedure that will require the training of personnel.
Noting that he has some knowledge on the use of the machine, Hutson stated that the Association will now have its sights set on having persons trained in the proper use of the machine as soon as possible.
It was last week Thursday at a press conference held at Olympic House that the two Associations revealed the achievement of the electronic device, which also comes with a starting-gun.

(By Tamica Garnett)