The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has issued yet another response to comments made by Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle during a television interview, further intensifying the already heated exchange between the two organizations. The statement, released on Wednesday night, comes amidst growing tensions over, among other things, the number of officials allowed to accompany athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

In recent days, the JAAA and veteran coach Glen Mills have criticized the JOA, particularly over what they see as an insufficient athlete-to-official ratio for the upcoming Olympics. The JAAA had requested 17 officials to support the athletes, but the JOA has allocated only 14. This disagreement has sparked a series of public statements and interviews, with Gayle recently calling for a sit-down with the JOA to resolve the issues.

During a televised interview, Gayle claimed that he had not received the Technical Manual governing the sport of track and field from the JOA. In a strongly-worded statement, the JOA refuted this claim, stating, "By email sent on January 10, 2024, the said manual was sent to Mr. Gayle, Mr. Ludlow Watts, Miss Marie Tavares, and Miss Juliette Parkes, executives of the JAAA."

The JOA further clarified that Gayle, who served as the Second Vice President of the JOA from 2017 to 2021, was well-acquainted with the technical manuals and the team size formula, having chaired the JOA’s Games Commission. "Mr. Garth Gayle, while occupying the office of the Second Vice President of the JOA, was Chairman of the JOA’s Games Commission and was totally familiar with technical manuals and the concept of the team size formula which he administered in several meetings to associations respecting international games," the statement read.

The JOA also emphasized their willingness to engage in dialogue with the JAAA, noting that they had already met with the JAAA on two occasions, meetings from which Gayle was notably absent. "The JOA has always been open to meet with the JAAA and did so on two occasions on which Mr. Gayle was absent. The door remains open," the statement concluded.

This latest development underscores the ongoing friction between the two bodies as they navigate the logistics and preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The JAAA's concerns about the number of officials are grounded in the belief that a larger support team is crucial for the athletes' performance across various disciplines. However, the JOA's adherence to established formulas and regulations points to a broader challenge of balancing administrative protocols with the specific needs of the athletes.

As the feud continues to unfold, the sporting community in Jamaica watches closely, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes the athletes’ best interests while maintaining organizational integrity and cooperation between the JAAA and the JOA.

Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA) president Garth Gayle has again waved the proverbial white flag as he made an impassioned plea for dialogue with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) to amicably resolve their differences ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympic Games.

While it seems some tension was brewing between to two sporting bodies, things came to a head on Monday, when veteran track and field coach Glen Mills lashed JOA for its decision to limit JAAA to 14 team officials, as opposed to the 17 that was requested.

Mills didn’t hold any punches, as he tore into the JOA about the allotment which he cited as woefully inadequate given that the country is expected to field at least 60 track and field athletes at the global multi-sport showpiece.

“I have been to nine Olympics. It is a disgrace that you have to be fighting to get the required number of coaches, the required number of therapists and doctors to go with an Olympic team that is probably rated number two or three in the world,” Mills said.

“I find it very unfortunate that track and field, and what it represents in the Olympic movement, not just in Jamaica but worldwide, along with Jamaica’s history (has come to this). We are not beggars, we have earned it,” he added.

JOA president Christopher Samuda.

The JOA has since responded and labeled Mills’ remarks as "unfortunate and ill-conceived.”

According to the JOA, it does not determine the number of officials for each sport. Instead, the Paris Organizing Committee of the Games uses a globally recognized team size formula based on the estimated number of athletes who qualify.

The Christopher Samuda-led JOA revealed that both the JAAA and Mills were aware of this process.

Still, Gayle, while maintaining that the JAAA’s request for 17 team officials is reasonable, appealed for good sense to prevail between both parties, as his administration is open and willing to sit down and iron out the issues.

“Each Olympic there is what is referred to as a technical manual, we are yet to receive a technical manual from the Jamaica Olympic Association. In the past we would have already received it as that is one of the things by which we could clearly state what is the expectation. In that document would also be team calculated…we would have asked for that, but based on our investigation and how we would have conducted our business over the years, we know that what we have asked for is more than reasonable,” Gayle said during a press conference to renew a partnership with Supreme Ventures at JAAA’s offices on Wednesday.

He continued: “As we cement our partnership with Supreme Ventures, we want to return to those days when we sit and work amicably with the Jamaica Olympic Association. I think we need to stop sending letters, but rather sit down and discuss (things), because they as the governing body for the Olympics have all this information. So rather than us being at loggerhead, let us sit down and reason and carefully calculate the thing because we are sure that our numbers for the Olympics will be a large number, it always has been and we don't see it changing.

Glen Mills blasted the JOA for restricting the JAAA's numbers.

“So all we are asking for is dialogue. Let today mark my appeal for members of the JOA to meet with us to discuss this matter amicably. We have a team size that is more than reasonable and we believe that we are in the right to ask for our officials to properly take care of our athletes in Paris that is all we are asking for.”

Another bitter issue between the two associations surrounds a pre-Olympic Camp scheduled to be hosted in Stuttgart, Germany.  This has the JOA chided the JAAA for negotiating the camp without its prior knowledge or approval.

However, Gayle pointed out that the decision to make their own arrangements was made after numerous failed attempts to secure the camp through the JOA.

“We have reached out on several occasions to the Jamaica Olympic Association seeking dialogue, so it would be remiss of us to know that other countries are putting together training camps and we the governing athletics body have not done so,” Gayle explained.

“And so it is in keeping with a tradition that we have sought a meeting, more than once, we did not get that. So we could not have sat back and not do anything, we would have been derelict in our duties, so we naturally moved on and sought appropriate accommodation for training of our athletes following the National Championships,” he added.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has suspended the selection of Leon Bailey to the senior men’s national team.

JFF, in a release on Wednesday, said the decision was made following recent incidents, including the Aston Villa winger’s decision not to participate in the Copa America 2024 team after being selected.

The country’s governing football body added that it also considered Bailey’s previous announcement that he wanted to take a break from his national duties as a reason to suspend his selection, as this move would ultimately guard against any further miscommunication.

“The JFF values the contributions of all players and respects their individual decisions regarding national team participation,” the release stated.

Additionally, the JFF revealed that the matter has been referred to David Watt, the newly appointed Chairman of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.

The West Indies Women secured their first victory of the tour in Sri Lanka with a convincing six-wicket win in the second T20 International on Wednesday. The win, achieved via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, saw the West Indies chase down a revised target of 99 runs with nine balls to spare, leveling the three-match T20I series 1-1.

After rain interrupted play in Hambantota, the West Indies were set a DLS-adjusted target of 99 runs in 15 overs. The chase was anchored by Stafanie Taylor, who scored an unbeaten 28 off 26 balls, ensuring her team stayed ahead of the DLS-par score throughout the innings.

Captain Hayley Matthews and Taylor got the visitors off to an ideal start, putting together a 44-run opening partnership in just 6.5 overs. Matthews, who scored 29 runs, fell to an arm ball from Sachini Nisansala, but her solid start provided a foundation for the West Indies' chase. Taylor then took control, forming a crucial 18-ball 24-run second-wicket partnership with Shemaine Campbelle, who contributed a quickfire 16 off 13 balls.

Despite the subsequent dismissals of Campbelle, Qiana Joseph, and Chedean Nation, the required run rate remained manageable, thanks to the positive approach of the West Indies batters. Aaliyah Alleyne sealed the victory with three boundaries off Kavisha Dilhari in the penultimate over, extinguishing any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback.

Earlier in the match, Afy Fletcher played a pivotal role in restricting Sri Lanka to 89 for 4 in 15.2 overs before rain halted their innings. Fletcher's impressive figures of 4 for 23 included crucial wickets that derailed the hosts' innings. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne had given Sri Lanka a steady start with a 44-run opening partnership, but their efforts came at a conservative pace, just under a run a ball.

Fletcher's breakthrough came when she spun one past Athapaththu, disturbing her stumps and halting her at 26 runs. Gunaratne, who labored for 24 runs off 35 balls, was trapped lbw by a Fletcher googly in the 14th over. Fletcher's earlier dismissals of Imesha Dulani, who was bowled while attempting a sweep, and Harshitha Samarawickrama, who top-edged a delivery, had already put Sri Lanka on the back foot.

Kavisha Dilhari showed some promise of a late counterattack, scoring 14 not out off just six balls, including two boundaries, but the rain brought an abrupt end to Sri Lanka's innings, leaving them with an incomplete total.

With this victory, the West Indies Women not only leveled the series but also gained crucial momentum heading into the final T20I. 

In a fiery response early Wednesday morning, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) addressed the explosive allegations made by veteran coach Glen Mills and Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle during a press conference on Monday. The JAAA officials had blasted the JOA's restrictions on the athlete-to-official ratio for the 2024 Paris Olympics, claiming the 14 allotted slots for team officials were grossly inadequate for the expected 60 track and field athletes. Mills also criticized the USD$40 per diem as insufficient, while Gayle described the JOA's relationship with the JAAA as "hostile" and said efforts to negotiate an increase in the number of officials to 17 had been futile.

The JOA labeled these remarks as "unfortunate and ill-conceived" and provided a comprehensive explanation of the process and regulations governing the allocation of officials for the Olympics. According to the JOA, it does not determine the number of officials for each sport. Instead, the Paris Organizing Committee of the Games uses a globally recognized team size formula based on the estimated number of athletes who qualify. Both the JAAA and Mills were aware of this process.

The number of officials may change depending on the number of athletes who meet qualification standards set by World Athletics. For example, failure to qualify for certain events, like the Men’s 4x400m relay, would reduce the number of officials allocated. The JAAA's request for 17 officials was based on an assumption of 70 athletes qualifying, whereas fewer athletes qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Games. The JOA emphasized that a larger team size results in a greater number of officials allotted, a fact that the JAAA and Mills were well-informed of.

JAAA President Garth Gayle

The JOA also addressed concerns regarding a training camp in Stuttgart, Germany, negotiated by the JAAA without JOA's prior knowledge or approval. The JOA had requested a detailed budget for the camp to ensure adherence to standard accounting regulations, but the JAAA allegedly failed to comply. Despite the JAAA's breach of transparency and standard accounting protocols, the JOA has continuously sought information to facilitate payment against invoices. The majority of requests from the JAAA reportedly related to cash, which the JOA found problematic due to the lack of detailed contractual arrangements.

In response to claims of hostility, the JOA highlighted two meetings with JAAA board members, during which progress and cordiality were noted, contrary to Gayle's assertions. The JOA also outlined several instances of financial support provided to the JAAA and track and field athletes. This included a $3,000,000 loan granted in 2017, $46,000,000 in bonuses and rewards for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, Olympic Solidarity Scholarships valued at over $25,000,000, and $6,500,000 in funding for five athletes preparing for Paris 2024. Additionally, the JOA has allocated $30,000,000 for the “Olympic Destiny” series and other events from 2021 to 2024.

Regarding the specific arrangements for Paris 2024, the JOA detailed several agreements made in response to JAAA's requests. These included a per diem of USD$40 per day, costs for extra luggage for each athlete and official, and seven personal coaches in addition to the 14 Primary Team Officials (PTO). The JOA also agreed to fund long layovers, including hotel accommodation, and provide phones, SIM cards, and rehydration requisites for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Glen Mills 

The JOA concluded by urging JAAA officials to exercise caution and professionalism in their statements, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Jamaica's reputation. The JOA expressed gratitude to the athletes, coaches, sports administrators, stakeholders, and corporate personalities who supported their continued professionalism and vision for sport.

The battle between these two major sporting bodies is far from over, but the JOA's response aimed to set the record straight and reaffirm their commitment to supporting Jamaican athletics on the global stage.

 See full JOA statement below:

 The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) notes the unfortunate and ill-conceived remarks, made recently at a press conference, by some officers of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and the Honourable,  Glen Mills, in relation to the apex body’s treatment of matters concerning the sport of Track and Field, generally and in relation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games specifically.

The facts are as follows:

1. The JOA does not stipulate the number of persons a sport can have as officials on its team, which includes managers coaches, physiotherapists and massage therapists. The Paris Organising Committee of the Games, in keeping with well-established and known regulations regarding Olympic Games, uses what is commonly and globally referred to as the team size formula by which it calculates and determines the number of officials allowable based on an estimate of the number of athletes who are expected to qualify. Both the JAAA and Mr. Mills are aware of this fact.

2. The amount determined by the Paris Local Organising Committee of the Games may increase or decrease depending on the number of athletes who meet qualification standards set by World Athletics and who then are named by the JAAA after the national championships. For example, in the event Jamaica does not qualify for the Men’s 4 X 40OM relay, this will adversely affect the number of officials allocated to the sport.   Both the JAAA and Mr. Mills are aware of this fact. The seventeen officials requested by the JAAA are predicated on the assumption of seventy athletes qualifying for this Olympic games whereas in respect of the 2021 Tokyo games Jamaica had less.

3. Consequently, it is clear, as night follows the day, that the larger the size of the team, the greater will be the number of officials allotted. Both Mr. Mills and the JAAA are aware of this fact.

4. The JAAA, without the prior knowledge of the JOA, negotiated a contract with a third party to host a camp in Stuttgart, Germany, and, thereafter, called upon the JOA to foot the bills when it knew that the JOA had previously indicated that a detailed budget of any proposed camp should be submitted for approval before any commitment was made to the third party.

5. Notwithstanding that breach of basic transparency and of standard principles of accounting protocols, the JOA made repeated requests of the JAAA, verbally in meetings and in writing (including through JOA’s Games Manager with responsibility for track and field, Olympian Mr. Donald Quarrie) to furnish the JOA with details of the contractual arrangements so as to enable the JOA to determine  payment against invoices in keeping with standard accounting regulations and practices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic movement. The JOA has noted that the majority of requests made by the JAAA for the Camp relates to cash. Regrettably, to date, the JAAA has failed and/or refused to comply which unfortunately has placed them irretrievably at risk.

6. Two meetings were held with board members of the JAAA on which occasions Mr. Garth Gayle was absent and Mr. Ludlow Watts was present and the JAAA attendees openly expressed their satisfaction with the progress made and cordiality of the talks which defies Mr. Gayle’s assertion of hostility.

7. The statement made by the JAAA, through its Treasurer, Mr. Ludlow Watts, that the JOA has been and is undermining the Association and track and field, is therefore, to say the least, comical and more so in light of the following:

1. In 2017, when the JAAA was strapped for cash in honouring its obligations in respect of a games, it approached the JOA through Mr. Garth Gayle, its then General Secretary who at that time was also the Second Vice President of the JOA, pleading for assistance to which the JOA, without reservation, acceded and granted the JAAA a loan of $3,000,000.00 which was repaid after the due date.

1. The JOA’s leveraging partnership funds in the amount of $46,000,000.00 in bonuses and rewards in relation to the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games for the benefit of athletes and coaches of track and field, which was pioneering in many respects. The JAAA is aware of this fact and welcomed the initiative which the JOA took and will continue to take in the interest of athletes and the sport of track and field.

1. The award made to five track and field athletes, through the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship since 2018 was valued at over $25,000,000.00. The beneficiaries were Demish Gay, Sashalee Forbes, Daniel Thomas-Dodd, O’Dayne Richards and Kai Chang all of whom were approved by the JAAA.

1. The JOA’s immediate response to the appeal to it by athletes for help in their preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games by providing funding, to five of them, totaling $6,500,000.00. The beneficiaries are Shaneika Richards, Malik James-King, Nyoka Clunis, Samantha Hall and Christoff Bryan

1. The JOA’s financial support of $30,000,000.00 for the period 2021 to 2024 which witnessed the successful inauguration of a series of meets in 2021 which it called “Olympic Destiny” in preparing athletes for the Tokyo Olympic Games;  financial support of  the Milo Western Relays and a Jamalco Track Meet;  financial support, through a partnership agreement executed with Supreme Ventures Limited, of the various National Trials from 2021 to 2024 of which fact the JAAA is fully aware. For this year’s JAAA national trials the JOA will contribute $5,000,000.00.

1. The JOA’s funding of the installation of and repairs to the lights at the Usain Bolt Track in response to pleas made to it by athletes, initiated by Olympian Fedrick Dacres;

1. The JOA’s approval of several additional requests made by the JAAA regarding the Paris 2024 Olympic Games namely:

40. payment of a per diem of US$40.00 per day during the games which was specifically requested by the JAAA to which the JOA agreed 100%;

1. payment of the costs for extra pieces of luggage for each athlete and official which was specifically requested by the JAAA to which the JOA agreed 100%;

• allotment of seven personal coaches which were specifically requested by the JAAA to which the JOA agreed 100% and these were in addition to the fourteen Primary Team Officials (PTO) allotted to the JAAA;

1. confirmation of JOA’s advice to the JAAA that, in the event the sport has more athletes qualifying, then the Paris Olympic Organising Committee of the games would increase the number of the PTOs based on the team size calculator operated by it and vice versa;

1. JOA’s full agreement to fund long layovers (to include hotel accommodation)  for athletes and officials travelling to the Paris 2024 Olympic games; and

1. JOA’s agreement to JAAA’s specific request to provide phones, sim cards and rehydration among other requisites for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
   

8. In the face of such irrefutable facts, the JOA finds it inconceivable and quite disturbing that some executive members of the JAAA and Mr. Glen Mills could be so irresponsible in their statements. Accordingly, we encourage them, in the interest of their sport and the reputation of Jamaica, to be circumspect in speech and professional in their undertakings.

9. The JOA notes the consistent tendency of some members of the executives of the JAAA to misrepresent facts for their own purposes. The JOA invites caution.

10. Finally, the JOA expresses its heartfelt appreciation to the innumerable athletes, coaches, sport administrators and stakeholders and corporate personalities who, since the very unfortunate remarks, have communicated their unqualified support of our continued professionalism and vision for sport.

 The Jamaica Olympic Association

June 25, 2024.

Adelaide Thunderbirds Head coach Tania Obst has lauded the work rate of Jamaican Latanya Wilson in the push to retain their title, as they dynamic defender consistently displays immense potential and versatility on a weekly basis in the Suncorp Super Netball League.

Obst’s praise for Wilson follows the Thunderbirds’ comprehensive 26-goal win over the Melbourne Mavericks last Saturday, which kept their spotless home record alive this season. In fact, that win not only pushed Thunderbirds up to second on the ladder, but more importantly, guaranteed them finals action in 2024.

The competitions best defence were at their stingy best once again, keeping the Mavericks to just 41 goals, and just 16 goals from a mere 20 attempts in the second half. 

Mavericks fans might have expected their side to make inroads in the second quarter when Thunderbirds star and Jamaican goalkeeper Shamera Sterling-Humphrey left the court, but the equally dynamic, if undersized, Wilson stepped up to the plate.

Wilson looked more than comfortable in the goalkeeper bib, as she racked up four deflections, two gains, one rebound, one pickup and 32 Nissan Net Points across her 13-minute stint in the position. 

Obst obviously would have preferred if Sterling-Humphrey did not have to leave the court, but she found a silver lining in Wilson’s move to the last line of defence. 

Tania Obst

“Goalkeeper isn’t unfamiliar for her [Wilson]; she has played there,” Obst said, referencing Wilson’s previous playing experience outside the SSN. 

“To be able to swing Latty [Wilson] back, gets Hannah (Petty) onto the court at wing defence and that allowed us to see some other things and get some more evidence around things we do really well with different combinations,” the coach added. 

Wilson has been nothing short of incredible this season.  

The 23-year-old sits second in the competition for intercepts on 38 and is in the top five for both deflections (65) and gains (65). 

Obst pointed out that Wilson’s hunger to grow has been the main catalyst behind her step up this season. 

Shamera Sterling-Humphrey left the court after getting knocked in the face.

“She is growing every time she hits the training track. She goes to training wanting to know what it is she’s working on and what does it (her role) look like for her this week. She just has an ability to be in the right position to be able to see where her player is as well as the ball,” Obst shared.

The Thunderbirds once again utilised their bench to its full capacity in the win over the Mavericks, something they have done weekly this season following their success with the same tactic last year. 

Obst believes this flexibility represents a major part of their push for back-to-back premierships. Another Jamaican, Romelda Aiken-George has been leading the Thunderbirds attacking line.

“We have players now who have been together for a while. They have done the hard yards, years of work, not just this year, and that is starting to play to our strengths,” Obst noted.

“To be able to roll people on and off the court in different positions and it is pretty seamless, and to be able to push on every quarter is going to be a real strength of ours moving forward,” she declared.

“Together, we are making a difference and building a brighter future for the children of Jamaica.”

That declaration from Marianne Van Steen, Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica, reinforces their ongoing commitment to education, violence prevention and community development through a 5K and 10K run/walk event.

The event’s second edition, which was held in March, in partnership with the Government and Running Events, under the theme, “All Together, Against Crime and Violence,” brought downtown, Kingston to life and raised funds for three literacy summer camps to be hosted at the Edward Seaga Primary, Holy Family Primary & Infant, and St Andrew Primary.

With some $4.5 million raised to fund the initiative, Ambassador Van Steen expressed heartfelt gratitude to their partners and participants who made the run/walk event a resounding success.

“This event is a testament to the power of partnership and citizen participation. The EU-JA 5K and 10K run was not just a sport event, but also a successful initiative that brought together diverse stakeholders and thousands of citizens for a common cause, to stand against violence and crime, to make Jamaica a safer place,” she said at the official handover ceremony on Tuesday.

The camps, which are being hosted jointly by the Ministry of Education and Youth and Creative Language Based Learning (CLBL) Foundation, are aimed at improving literacy levels and reducing the vulnerability to crime and violence.

A part of the EU’s efforts includes budget support and technical assistance to the All-of-Government’s Citizen Security Plan.

This initiative, Ambassador Van Steen said is seeking to implement more coordinated, data driven and effective interventions to improve the security environment for citizens and address some of the root-causes that contribute to crime and violence.

Last year, proceeds from the run significantly benefitted students at Kingston High School who participated in the literacy summer camp.

“We are very satisfied of the success of last year's literacy summer camps, which were an opportunity of hope and transformation for the children of Kingston High School. These camps can be truly life-changing for this children that for circumstances of their life have fallen behind in their learning process. Therefore, we are proud to have confirmed our commitment to support three new schools this year,” she shared.

“Education is a cornerstone of the European Union's global agenda, and it holds special significance in our partnership with Jamaica. We firmly believe that every child deserves access to quality education and the opportunity to succeed. The Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) has been a main partner in our ongoing budget support programmes, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration in future initiatives,” the Ambassador added, noting that next year’s event will also mark the 50th anniversary of the EU’s partnership with Jamaica.

Joseph Matalon, chairman of Creative Language Based Learning (CLBL) Foundation, pointed out that the increased funding will allow the programme to substantially increase its scope and impact.

“The session will benefit 45 students, up from 19 last year, overseen by an increased contingent of consultants from Linda Mood Bell, with CLBL mobilising two coaches, three mentors (previously participating teachers from varying cohorts who have been developed into Local Instructional Mentors) and 16 trained teachers, serving 45 students,” Matalon explained.

“The Learning Session will provide supervised, immersive practice for our trained teachers and give participating students a jumpstart in reading to prepare for the new school year. We aim to deliver 80 hours of Training and Professional Development for each teacher, exposing them to all aspects of the programme as they engage students with varying learning needs,” he noted.

Matalon stressed the significance of the generosity of organisations like the European Union, which enables his foundation in its work.

He revealed that the foundation, in partnership with the Ministries of Education and National Security, also aims to expand its programme, focusing on 20 primary and 14 high schools under the Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy, as well as 245 primary and secondary schools classified as underperforming by the National Education Inspectorate.

“We hope that the well-documented efficacy of our programmes will foster the confidence to encourage you, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Security, to continue to support this programme and the other efforts of these two ministries to transform Jamaica’s education systems and improve safety in our schools,” Matalon stated.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams lauded the European Union and CLBL on their efforts to make a difference on the education and future outlooks of the students.

“This is a welcome addition to the ministry’s efforts to address areas of weakness in literacy in how it is taught and learnt in Jamaica. Educators all over the world are constantly being challenged to refine existing methodology or develop new ones to meet the many needs of their student population, and this effort will help in that regard. I note the theme for this year was “All Together, Against Crime and Violence,” making a link between literacy skills and the violent behaviour of our students and adults. Our aim is to break that nexus and I want to again express our gratitude to everyone involved in making this happen,” the minister said in an emotional speech.

Veteran track and field coach Glen Mills expressed his discontent with Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and its restraints placed on the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) where the number of team officials to be accredited for this summer’s Paris Olympic Games is concerned.

Mills didn’t hold any punches, as he tore into the JOA about the fact that they allotted only 14 slots to the JAAA for team officials, a figure he cited as woefully inadequate given that the country is expected to field at least 60 track and field athletes at the global multi-sport showpiece.

In fact, Mills was not shy about declaring that besides diver Yona Knight-Wisdom, uncertainty surrounds whether or not the country will have athletes in any other sporting discipline, and this he believes makes the case for the track and field contingent to be given the respect it deserves.

“I have been to nine Olympics. It is a disgrace that you have to be fighting to get the required number of coaches, the required number of therapists and doctors to go with an Olympic team that is probably rated number two or three in the world,” Mills said.

“I find it very unfortunate that track and field, and what it represents in the Olympic movement, not just in Jamaica but worldwide, along with Jamaica’s history (has come to this). We are not beggars, we have earned it,” he added.

Even as he recommended that the JOA reconsiders and up the JAAA’s allocation to 17 team officials, Mills believes that figure is still insufficient, and further suggested that 21 would be the right fit.

According to Mills, his experience as the Jamaican technical director and coach at several international competitions in the past gives him expert knowledge on what it takes to manage an Olympic delegation.

“Seventeen persons for a team of 65 to 70 is totally inadequate. I know that. I have been there and I’ve done that. I have done at least six or seven Olympics as the technical director and coach,” Mills declared.

“I know what it is to go there and work with so many different athletes and so many responsibilities, So, I cannot see why the number is a problem. How can track and field be struggling to get 17 persons when the minimum based on the requirements should be about 21,” he questioned.

On that note, Mills, the former coach of sprint legend and world record holder Usain Bolt, pointed out that he could have opted to take his expertise elsewhere, but declined offers from two other Olympic associations to join their team for this year’s Olympic Games.

“If it is forced that I recognise the necessity for other coaches who have numerous athletes, I could have gone to the Olympics with other countries. I was offered two full accreditations, full funding, but I could never see myself wearing another country’s colours, but if I am forced to, then I will have to,” he noted.

Meanwhile, JAAA President Garth Gayle explained that efforts to get the Christopher Samuda-led JOA to reconsider, have proved futile, even as he highlighted the need for additional personnel to support athletes across various disciplines.

“We believe this is a reasonable request considering the wide range of disciplines, horizontal jumps, vertical jumps, throws, as well as medical personnel and therapists, we are requesting the JOA to increase the number by three to make it 17. Their response has been 14 and that’s it, but we are asking that they review it," Gayle shared.

It was a goal fest in the NBGC Premier League on the weekend with a total of 26 goals scored among the five matches on the cards.

The Premier League moved to the NBGC Technical Center on Friday June 21, when Azul Cayon Rockets crushed demoted Trafalgar Southstars 5-0.

The goals came from Devontay Carty in the 24^th minute, Vinceroy Nelson in the 31^st minute, Evansroy Barnes one minute before halftime, Jahmarli Connor in the 63^rd minute and Shaqkeem Butler six minutes later.

After the match, Coach Anthony Nets Isaac of Cayon said he is satisfied with the win, though he was hoping to score more goals in the event goal difference plays a role in the playoff positions.

“At training and coming to the game, we decided we had to get at least seven to eight goals. Because remember the second-place team, which is (Old Road) have been scoring goals regularly, and they are way ahead in goals. But for us to catch up, depending on how the table stand, we want to be there when it comes to goal averages...we didn't get the amount that we wanted, but we're satisfied still,” Isaac said.

Manager of Trafalgar Southstars, Akins Phillip said with his team relegated to Division 1, he is aiming for his team to earn some points before the end of the season.

“The plan for the rest of the season is to try and get some points. We can't leave without getting at least three or six points. We're going to try our best,” Phillip said.

On Saturday June 22, DBSKN St. Peters FC, edged Honda Newtown United 3-2, to maintain their spot in the Final Four playoff race.

St. Peters took the lead in the sixth minute through Devion Harvey before, eight minutes into the second half, Jabari Isaac equalized for Newtown.

Shaquille Barzey and Dionis Stephens scored in the 62^nd and 68^th minutes, respectively, to put St. peters up 3-1 before Shamar Powell gave Newtown hope of a comeback with eight minutes to go.

In Saturday’s second game, S.L Horsfords St. Paul’s United came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with MFCR Old Road United Jets.

Goals from Tiquanny Williams in the 34^th minute and Geovanni Lake four minutes later gave Old Road a 2-0 lead going into the halftime interval.

Keithroy Freeman cut the lead in half for St. Paul’s in the 67^th minute before Petrez Williams secured a point for his side in the 90^th minute.

Captain of Old Road Jets Nequan Browne explained that the team lost concentration and managed the game poorly which led to them giving up the 2-0 lead.

“We lost concentration in the game. Time management was a problem with us. We should have managed the ball better, move it around better, instead of playing into St. Paul's hands. I just feel like the inexperience of the team, maybe took a toll on us. But we will regroup and come again,” Browne said.

Jamal Jeffers, goalkeeper for St. Paul’s spoke to his team’s resilience, which spurred them to walkway with a point from a losing position.

“A lot of fans know it and the community of St. Paul's knows that St. Paul don't go out without a fight. Many times, we have been in this position but we kept our cool. We concede two early goals but regardless, that's how football goes. We just have to keep calm, we just have to continue playing. Coach talked to us; we made some tactical changes and came out and played a way better second half and we managed to get away with a draw,” he said.

On Sunday June 23, Tropical Blossom Hotsprings Bath United made its claim for a spot in the playoffs when they defeated SKELEC Garden Hotspurs 2-1.

Spurs took the lead in the 23^rd minute though a Justin Claxton own goal before Aljay Newton equalized for Bath two minutes later.

Bath’s winning goal came from Jeremy Richards six minutes into the second half.

Richards was very satisfied with the performance of his teammates and the result of the match.

“I think we've had a desire to come and perform as a team. We have some goals to meet for the season and that has been our main focus. So, it was an important three points...and we move forward,” Richards said.

Spurs Coach George “Yellowman” Isaac said he is doing his best to motivate the players as they are facing the unprecedented situation of relegation from the premier league.

“That's a hard one, but I try my best every day to motivate these players every day in training. To work hard, to play hard, because the position we in, we’ve got to make sure we come out, but it’s just getting harder and harder,” Isaac said.

The final match of the weekend was an exciting nine goal thriller as defending champions Rams Village Superstars came from 1-0 down to win 5-4 against Conaree.

Village went up 3-1 at half time, with a brace by the league’s leading goal scorer Kimaree Rogers in the 23^rd and 36^th minutes and a goal from Dahjal Kelly in the 33^rd minute in response to a 20^th minute strike from Conaree’s Errol O’Loughlin.

Caaja Burnham made it 4-1 in the second half in the 58^th minute, but O’Loughlin led the Conaree fightback, rounding out his hat trick in the 70^th and 74^th minutes.

Samani Williams, however, extended Village’s lead in the 80th minute but Conaree, not to be outdone, scored a 4^th goal in the 7^th minute of stoppage time before the match ended 5-4.

Coach Stephen Clarke of Village said the win was a show of the heart and grit of his team, but they must do a better job defensively.

“Certain parts of how we play, especially in the first half, the chances we created, moments on the ball; it's been missing for quite a while. With that said though, giving up four goals, it was, I must say, uncalled for. We didn't see out the game,” Clarke commented.

Assistant Coach of Conaree Sven Korte, said despite the loss, he is proud of his players.

“I'm proud of my team. They've given everything. Congratulations to Rams Village Superstars. Great performance; the win is okay, because overall I think pass accuracy, speed of players, and bridging the midfield was definitely in their favor,” he said.

The NBGC Premier League is on a break this week due to the St. Kitts Music Festival, but the teams return to action in the first weekend of July at the NBGC Technical Center.

Jamaican Olympian Ian Weakly will be among fellow Olympians Brigitte Foster Hylton, Winthrop Graham, and Debbie Byfield-Russell, to be honoured at a prestigious ceremony hosted by the Olympians Association of Jamaica and Friends of Jamaica Track & Field in association with the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) at the Alhambra Inn in Kingston on Tuesday night. The event also recognizes the contributions of esteemed administrators Irwin Clare, Garth Gayle, Winston Harvey, Dennis May, and Ewan Scott.

Speaking with Sportsmax.TV, an emotional Weakly expressed his gratitude for the recognition, reflecting on his journey from a small community in Montego Bay to the global stage. “I feel very honored to be recognized among my fellow Olympians and friends for accomplishments on and off the track. As you might know, my career started in a small community in Montego Bay, St. James, at Barnett Oval. I took part in cricket and football but found success in track and field at St. Elizabeth Technical High School," said Weakly.

Weakly's illustrious 15-year career saw him compete in two Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games, and two World Championships. His notable achievements include winning the 400m hurdles at the Jamaican Athletics Championships in 2001 and achieving his personal best time of 48.55 seconds at the 2003 Trikala Super Grand Prix in Athens, Greece.

Reflecting on his early years, Weakly shared how his passion for track and field began. "I discovered my love for track and field in high school, where I also played football and soccer as a captain and goalkeeper, respectively. My career truly took off in 1992 when I switched to the 400m hurdles, leading to victories at the Carifta Games, a silver medal at the World Junior Championship in Korea, and a bronze at the Pan American Games in Canada," he reminisced.

After graduating from George Mason University in 1996, where he secured the NCAA Indoor Team title, Weakly joined Jamaica’s national team. He went on to secure numerous accolades, including second place in the 4x400m relay at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, third place in the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and second place at the Monaco World Athletics finals.

Since retiring in 2008, Weakly has pursued a successful career in real estate and remains active in his community. He is an avid gardener and finds solace in his connection with nature. He also enjoys running, hiking, and biking. A dedicated community volunteer, Weakly gives back through his membership with the Rotary Club and has spearheaded humanitarian projects in Jamaica, such as providing potable water to a primary school in Dumfries.

Currently, Weakly serves as a World Athletics Athlete representative and manages Jamaican athletes Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Rajindra Campbell. He emphasized his commitment to continuing his service to the community and promoting the Olympic spirit. "I will continue to serve my community and local schools in Jamaica, and trust that Heavenly Father will be proud of my work on earth. It brings great joy again to be recognized by my fellow Olympians. I continue to share the Olympic spirit to build a peaceful and better world in the Olympic spirit which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play," he said.

Clare, who is unable to attend Tuesday night’s event due to prior commitments, also expressed his gratitude at being recognized for the work he has done with Team Jamaica Bickle, a non-profit that provides support to Caribbean athletes who are participating at the annual Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia in the United States.

“Recognition from organizations like this fills my day. I was truly moved by that recognition. It is an awesome group, kudos to them because they are truly trailblazers, continued ambassadors, reminding people of the type of hard work and discipline you have to put into the craft and that there is life also after track.”

Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships, Ludlow Watts, expects this year’s edition of the championships to be the “best ever” in terms of competitiveness.

This year’s championships are set to get underway on Thursday, June 27 at the National Stadium in Kingston and run until Sunday, June 30.

According to Watts, over 680 athletes in both the junior and senior categories have entered ahead of Thursday’s start.

The days, start times and end times (Jamaica time) are as follows:

Thursday, June 27 9:00am-8:45pm, Friday, June 28 9:30am-9:58pm, Saturday, June 29 9:48am-7:45pm, Sunday, June 30 10:01am-8:05pm.

The opening ceremony will be held at 6:00pm on Friday.

“We expect to have tremendous support,” Watts said at a press conference on Monday hosted by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

He also acknowledged concerns fans may have about a number of Jamaica’s top athletes ahead of the meet but noted that, as of now, nobody of note has pulled out.

“A number of people have been having concerns about some of our star athletes. We are not aware of any withdrawals as yet,” he said.

“People must try not to miss these championships because they will probably be the best ever in terms of competitiveness. A number of young stars are emerging and I think it makes it interesting,” Watts added.

 Among the events expected to be the most competitive are the men's and women's 100m finals. On the men's side, while Oblique Seville is the only Jamaican to run below 10 seconds this year with his 9.82 at the Racers Grand Prix, 18 Jamaican men have already run faster than 10.20 this season heading into the championships.

The women's side is also expected to be more competitive than it's been in a long time due to some questions about the readiness of Jamaica's big three- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah- coming into the championships.

Fraser-Pryce is coming off a knee procedure and made her season debut just nine days ago at the JAAA Olympic French Foray with 11.15. Jackson has looked far from her best so far this season. She has had a pair of wins on the Diamond league circuit in the 200m with times of 22.82 in Marrakech and 22.69 in Stockholm as well as a fifth place finish in 22.97 in Oslo. In her only 100m of the season, Jackson ran 11.03 at the JAAA All Comers meet on May 4.

Thompson-Herah, the reigning double Olympic champion, is the biggest question mark coming into the championships. In her two races this season, she has finished last both times with 11.30 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and 11.48 at the USATF New York Grand Prix. After the race in New York, sha had to be carried off the track with an Achilles injury, the same injury that hampered her 2023 season as well.

With the big three seeming as vulnerable as ever, a number of contenders will fancy themselves to knock them off the podium at these championships and secure their spot on the team to the Paris Olympics.