The Haitian Athletics Federation and the Dominican Association of Athletics Federations, in coordination with the Ministry of Sports Dominican, decided to extend the promotion, development and high performance athletics in the two country.

Gerardo Suero Correa, President of the Dominican Association of Athletics Federations, declared it was a priority for his institution, to expand ongoing exchanges with athletes and Haitian organizations because it promotes growth, high performance and the emergence of new young sporting talent.

For his part, Alan Jean-Pierre, President of the Haitian Association of Athletics Federations, who is also President of the Central American and Caribbean Confederation of athletics, said he was honored by the show of solidarity of the Dominican people, from the Dominican Association of Athletics and the Ministry of Sports Federations, in training programs, exchange and development of athletics in Haiti and in Dominican Republic and the Caribbean.

In addition Alan Jean-Pierre announced that Haiti will be present with a large delegation to the "Sports Festival of the Women" (Festival Deportivo de Mujer) which runs from March 14 to 16, 2014, noting that this event should serve as a vehicle to encourage the presence of similar delegations of Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

At this meeting it was also decided to promote exchanges at the level of students of sports schools and elite athletes, especially in sprinting and jumping.

David Fernandez Mirabal, the Dominican Sports Minister congratulated the two federations for the joint effort "For the Government of the Dominican Republic, it is very important to contribute to the development of athletics and sports, especially in border areas," adding that his ministry will continue the training of technicians on both sides of the border and will soon meet with the President of the Haitian Association of Athletics Federations, on the "Festival Deportivo de Frontera 2014" which will be held from 18 to July 20, 2014, in Pedernales.

Gerardo Suero Correa and the Ministry of Sports, decided to develop a comprehensive program 2014-2016 to expand support for development efforts of athletics and recreation between the two Nations.

BF/ HaitiLibre