An open letter to Athletics Canada

Dear Athletics Canada,

Your decision to not send a team to the u20 Pan Am Championships has hurt many in the track and field community. It is of immediate importance to us that you reverse this decision.

I have given athletes, parents, coaches and others the chance to voice their opinions. I have created a petition in regards to your decision, which can be viewed at this link: https://www.change.org/p/athletics-canada-athletics-canada-send-a-team-to-the-u20-pan-am-championships. Within the first 24 hours of it being put up, the petition has received about 75 votes from people all over the country. The numbers on this are sure to grow in the coming days and weeks, if that's what it comes to.

Many athletes were looking to this event as another chance to make the national team after missing out on the u20 World team, which just 15 athletes had made.

Our goals in fact are the same: to see Canadian athletes excel at all levels of competition. To send a team to the u20 Pan Am Championships would give more u20 athletes the chance to do so on the international stage. I know you know this, but it feels as if it is not that important to Athletics Canada that more people get the chance with the cancellation of this team.

As evidenced in the comment section of the petition, several athletes were hoping this would be their chance to be on Team Canada after missing out on the u20 Worlds team. To be waiting for months for information on this event only to be told Canada won't send a team is devastating. They don't get this chance to be on the international stage, missing out on now what is 2 years of hope they could get there.

I believe your reasoning on the recent newsletter was unjustified. What about the timing of the event makes it unfeasible? The date was moved back to accommodate COVID. If you give information about standards and selection dates swiftly, athletes in school can make plans weeks in advance.

We will not accept dismissal, or for you to change your reasoning for not sending a team. We will make our voices heard on multiple platforms. Our athletes deserve this. Athletics Canada should be doing everything in its power to see a team sent to the u20 Pan Am Championships.

There must be quick action on this decision as I understand events like this require preparation weeks in advance. I will periodically send updates to you on the progress of this petition.

I hope you are open to receiving our opinions with an open mind. They have already missed out on so much with this pandemic, don't let this be another. Don't let our youth athletes down. They are counting on you to give them as many opportunities as possible, not to shut them down just because "they already had one". This new chance is ahead of them, don't be the hurdle that trips them up.

Regards,

David Murphy

 

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