IAAF - RDC

HISTORY OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (RDC)

Initially located in the Albergue Olímpico in Salinas, Puerto Rico, was established in 1985 on the initiative of the area representative after an exhaustive perusal of alternative venues (e.g. Mexico City, Havana, Miami) and the availability of the Puerto Rico Olympic Center whose facilities were gefnerously offered to the area grouping by then president, German Rieckehoff Sampayo.

Since then, at least two training courses, of no less than two weeks duration each, have been offered at the Centre annually, with the participation of coaches and/or athletes from virtually every country in the North American, Central American and Caribbean area. The centre's offerings have been geared towards the coaches of the developing countries of the area, rather than the United States or Canada, though instructors from these two countries are used extensively.

The Development Commission of the IAAF formally recognized the centre in 1987 and has made annual contributions fsince then to the funding of the programs undertaken at the Centre.

The Centre was relocated to the Rio Piedras campus of the University of Puertof Rico in 2000 which generously extended usage of its facilities on agreed upon dates, at a modest daily cost per participant with no charges being imposed for the use of supplementary facilities (e.g. track, classrooms, etc.)

The offices of the RDC - which since July of 1998 have been headed by Lenford Levy - are located in the Jardin Botanico, headquarters of the central offices of the University of Puerto Rico.

RDC OBJETIVE

The international federation envisions that the activities to be undertaken by its Regional Development Centres shall include the following:

• An increased role in the education of coaches through the IAAF Coaches Education and Certification System including the staging of courses and lecturers seminars and the coordination of basic level lecturers throughout the region served.

• Establishing and maintaining a resource center of books, magazines, film, videos and other materials pertaining to athletics.

• Production and distribution of publications required by the region beginning with a regional technical bulletin/newsletter for coaches.

• An increase in the number and type of special courses, seminars and workshops to cover topics such as administration, women's athletics, sports medicine and sports science.

• Provision of facilities for the headquarters of a regional coaches association and other bodies that may be established.

• Research in the various fields of concern to the countries in the region in coordination with the IAAF Development Department.

• A role in the education of judges and referees.

• Provision of facilities for the training and special preparation of athletes in the region.