Sean Tucker, the chairman of the National Sports Centre’s Board of Trustees, has quashed any concerns that Bermuda’s top athletes will have to pay to train at the track and field stadium.

Tucker has moved to clear any confusion surrounding the trustees’ decision to charge the general public, insisting that athletes classified as Elite could continue to use the facility without charge.

The introduction of fees from next week comes after a review by the trustees, who will use the revenue to cover the extensive operational costs of the main competition athletics track.

Bermuda’s track clubs had previously been exempt from paying to use the NSC, however Tucker believes it was important to introduce some form of standardisation for all Bermuda sports.

“Every club, every other sport — hockey, rugby, football, cricket — pay and have always paid to use the facility and track should be no different,” Tucker said.

“We wanted the policy to be across the board, although athletes won’t have to pay as they long as the have met the Bermuda Olympic Association’s Elite athlete criteria.

“When [Elite athletes] return to the Island, they will have access for free, which has been the case. We encourage our athletes to do well and don’t want to discourage them in any way.

“All national teams will be allowed to use the facility for free two weeks before a major event. That’s been the policy for the last ten years.”

Donna Watson, the president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association, expressed her disappointment last week that her sport would be required to stump up cash to train at the stadium.

She believes that athletes who represent their country should not have to pay to train. Watson also suspects that the main reason for the demand for cash was to cover the running costs of the multimillion-dollar Aquatics Centre, which opened last summer. Tucker, however, has rebutted those claims although he said he respected and understood Watson’s stance. “Some of the things that have been said just aren’t true,” he added. “I’m a huge supporter of Donna Watson, though, she’s a fierce advocate and fighter for track and field.

“I understand what she’s trying to do, but we have a responsibility to maintain the sports centre and if we don’t, we have not lived up to our responsibilities. The replacement cost for the track is forecast to be in excess of $650,000. By investing more in maintenance, this will assist in delaying replacement.

“It is also important to note that the introduction of fees has nothing to do with the Aquatics Centre. The Aquatics Centre has its own departmental budget and is tracking according to plan.”

Tucker admitted the rising costs of maintaining the 28-acre site had forced their hand in terms of charging fees for the first time.

“The National Sports Centre has historically absorbed the ongoing maintenance costs of both the track and the grandstands,” Tucker said.

“The track has been the only facility operated within the National Sports Centre without any fees for regular ongoing use. This is not fair or equitable with any other component operated within the NSC. It is only reasonable that all facility users should share the financial responsibility for maintaining the Centre through the payment of fees.”

Tucker reiterated that there would be no charge for the use of the larger 600?metres track surrounding the NSC’s North Field.

Public entry fees for the track facility and stadium include $8 for adults, $5 for youth (13-18), seniors (65 and over) and $2 for children (6-13).

Multipack fitness packages of ten tickets are also available, as well as monthly passes. BNAA-registered clubs will have the opportunity to rent the track for training at national sport group rates.