‘Return of fans makes Champs 2022 better for TV audiences’

After a 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships (Champs) behind closed doors, Claire Grant, general manager, Broadcast Services (TV & Radio), RJRGLEANER Group, says a return of patrons for this year will be a slow return to normalcy and to what viewers expect from the biggest high school track and field competition in the world.

The 2022 edition of Champs will take place from April 5-9 with Television Jamaica (TVJ) providing broadcasting coverage locally through TVJ and TVJ Sports Network and to a wider global audience on Pay-Per-View thanks to their 1spotmedia.com platform.

After the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 edition, Champs returned last year without fans in attendance.

"Obviously, sporting events are enhanced by the audience, a very important part of the ambience of the broadcast. And so while last year's Champs was the first event since the pandemic, it was really very different without the fans and I am sure that having the audience back in is going to make it a much more enjoyable event live and on the broadcast," Grant told STAR Sports.

ISSA was granted permission to have fully vaccinated fans attend the five-day competition although a maximum limit has not been determined. However, persons will be able to have different packages to choose from to watch if not able to physically attend.

Days one through three will cost US$10.99 while the last two days of the competition, days four and five will attract costs of US$15.99 and US$20.99, respectively. However, the Early Early Bird special is available now until March 13, costing US$25.99 for all five days. After which, patrons can still access the Early Bird special for US$27.99 which will be in effect for an additional week before the regular season pass is available for US$34.99.

Grant says that with fervent atmosphere returning, it will allow fans to experience close to what they expect of the competition at pre-pandemic levels.

"The idea of seeing the fans in the stands and seeing the colours of the schools and all of that, that brings a different texture to the meet. I am not sure how that will look with the COVID-19 restrictions, whether or not fans are going to be able to do some of the things they did prior to COVID-19. But it is going to be exciting to see how the fans themselves adjust and therefore with the adjustment what it is going to be like on TV," Grant said.