Moncton youth get special access to games

Sixty young people from some of Moncton's poorest neighbourhoods are going to get first-class treatment duringthis summers world track and field championships.

They will be bused to the stadium every morning to watch the events. And in the afternoons the athletes will visit them in their neighbourhoods.

Moncton East MLA Chris Collins said the idea came to him when he was meeting with organizers of the IAAF World Junior Championships.

Collins said with ticket prices averaging seven dollars per session, attending the event is an experience these young people might not otherwise have. He's now helping to organize the Aim Higher programwith community groups and business people.

"We want to inspire these children to be the best they can be," said Collins, "and teach them what determination and ambition can bring them."

Collins said he has also been working with the Department of Social Development to identify young people who want to take part.

"I think that we all should be taking an initiative to be helping our financially challenged people in the communities," Collins said. "I do believe that we have to break that circle of poverty that exists in New Brunswick today."

Athletes from over 170 countries will be competing in the event, which runs July 19-26.

The championship finals will be shown on a big-screen television at a community barbeque.