The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) will, next month, launch its Olympic Coaches' Scholarships as the local governing body for Olympic sports continues its drive in making more professional the delivery of sports, especially the international games which fall under its remit.
Those games include the Summer and Winter Senior and Youth Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, the Commonwealth Games and beach games staged by regional and world governing bodies.
Enabling and empowering stakeholders remains the primary focus of the JOA which in 2019 created history when it inaugurated its own athletes' scholarships valued at over $JMD 6,000,000.00 to match scholarships, under the aegis of the Olympic Solidarity Programme of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), are granted to athletes selected by the JOA.
"We've always been a co-partner with our coaches who are the custodians of talent and in acknowledging that fact, the JOA is making another solid and scholarly investment in our human and technical capital in sport," JOA President Christopher Samuda said.
Applicants responding to the call will formally submit their credentials in a pre-determined format and those who are shortlisted will then go through a very practical interview process governed by an expert panel assembled by the apex body, which will determine the successful beneficiaries.
JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster, who will manage the process, outlined the value of the scholarships and more importantly the values which the JOA will be promoting, as the benefactor, through this grant.
"It's more than the $2,000,000.00 dollars that each recipient will receive to assist them in educational and career pursuits and to defray expenses incurred in relation to the preparation of their athletes and certain personal expenses, for it will be an experience in the lessons of Olympism in which they will learn the value of self-management and mastery, goal setting and achievement and ethics and business of sport," Foster explained.
A welcomed opportunity for Jamaica's coaches, the continued grant of the scholarships by the JOA will fill a void locally and "give our coaches a new lease on their sporting lives and signal to them that the JOA is on the frontline with them and their athletes in creating success" Foster further stated.
This initiative comes on the heels of the Olympic Coaches Reward which the JOA initiated at the Tokyo Olympic Games which saw the governing body rewarding coaches of successful medalists to the tune of JMD$5,000,000.00.
Sport development calls for structured strategic management of human resources and a viable infrastructure of which coaches are essential.
"Our coaches are foundational, the cornerstone of the sports architecture and therefore the JOA is building capacity and deepening the pool of competencies while giving them assistance in dealing with certain domestic obligations of life," Samuda remarked.
The JOA Olympic Coaches Scholarships will also provide opportunities for coaches selected to collaborate with global colleagues in the transfer of knowledge in master classes.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Rough Fight League overcomes rainy conditions as fighters impress at Hope Gardens
Despite heavy rains during the day which created challenging conditions, fans flocked to the Rough Fight League event on Saturday night at Funland, Hope Gardens, where intense matchups and special guests made for an unforgettable evening of MMA. Among the highlights was the appearance of Bellator and PFL World Champion Jason Jackson, who thrilled the crowd with a special exhibition bout against promoter and fellow MMA fighter Kyle Chin.
Inside the cage, Shaienie ‘Da Great’ Blake, Theron ‘Iron Prince’ Rose-Green, and Tyrece ‘Tank’ Thompson emerged victorious, demonstrating grit and skill. Blake dominated Daron ‘Avatar’ Weir, ending the fight in the second round with a decisive KO following a series of punishing leg kicks and a perfectly-timed hook, prompting the referee to stop the bout.
Rose-Green claimed victory over Jaheim ‘Imru Makonnen’ Morrison with a choke submission in the third round, while Thompson defeated Samuel Campbell in the first round by TKO with relentless ground-and-pound.
The night’s action also saw Khalil Gordon secure a dramatic victory over Joshua Myers, who had dominated the first two rounds with superior technique and control. However, Gordon turned the tide in the third, catching Myers in a guillotine choke and forcing the tap-out, completing a remarkable comeback.
In another intense matchup, Jordan Mitchell faced off against Chevon Gordon. Mitchell wasted no time, swiftly taking Gordon to the ground in the first round and unleashing a powerful sequence of strikes. His ground-and-pound overwhelmed Gordon, prompting the referee to stop the fight, awarding Mitchell the TKO win.
Chris McNair also claimed a notable victory, taking on Sanjae Hudson in a heated bout. McNair’s relentless body attacks in the second round proved too much for Hudson, with a series of punishing blows leading to a TKO stoppage, securing McNair’s win.
Meanwhile, Demar ‘Force’ Haslam displayed explosive power in his bout against Nakia Anderson. In just the first round, Haslam connected with a precise, devastating strike and securing one of the night’s most decisive victories.
Promoter Kyle Chin, reflecting on the night, expressed satisfaction despite the hurdles caused by the day’s rain. “It was a fantastic night borne out of determination and the will to keep going on,” Chin said. “The torrential rain (earlier in the day) was challenging, especially on the grass venue for setting up the cage and trussing. Despite the delays, fans arrived promptly, and the energy was incredible.”
Chin highlighted the enthusiasm of special guest Jason Jackson, whose participation added a thrilling element to the night. “Jason was really happy to be there, and we could not have been happier to have him,” Chin noted. “We ended up with a decent turnout, proving there are true die-hard fans for MMA here.”
The Rough Fight League continues to make waves in Jamaica’s MMA scene, with fighters and fans alike showing dedication to the sport, rain or shine.
Ardenne High School launches second Optima 5K to fund Wellness Centre construction
Ardenne High School has launched its second annual Optima 5K Run/Walk, a major fundraising initiative to support the construction of a wellness centre on the school’s campus. The event, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, at 6:30 am, will be managed by Running Events Limited for the first time, with registration available through runningeventsja.com.
The 5K, organized by the Ardenne Alumni Foundation under the leadership of Chairperson Flo Darby, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser to date, with all proceeds going toward the wellness centre, which will be the first of its kind for a Jamaican high school. With a growing student population of over 2,000, Ardenne High sees the wellness centre as crucial for supporting both the physical and mental health of its students and staff.
“We are planning to build a wellness centre for Ardenne High School, a space that focuses on physical and emotional health,” said Darby. “We’ll have a nurse on site, as well as rooms for guidance counsellors, a part-time psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker. It will be the first of its kind in Jamaica, improving the environment for our students.”
Current estimates place the cost of the wellness centre at J$64 million, with a targeted completion date before the school’s 100th anniversary in 2027.
Two Olympians, 400m specialist and past Ardenne student Brandon Simpson and decathlete Maurice Smith, attended the event launch to endorse the initiative. Smith, whose siblings attended Ardenne, will also join Simpson at the start line on November 16, encouraging fellow athletes and supporters to participate in the cause.
Alfred “Franno” Francis of Running Events Limited expressed his excitement for the project, noting the importance of fostering a healthy lifestyle. “We will try our best to execute a well-organized event, giving participants the support they need while raising funds for this exceptional cause,” he said. “This initiative is exemplary for other schools to follow, and we hope to see strong participation from current and past Ardenne students, along with anyone interested in health and wellness.”
The route, as outlined by Francis, will start on Ardenne Road, then proceed through Trafalgar Park, onto Trafalgar Road, and follow a path along Lady Musgrave Road to Vale Royal. The course then turns onto Upper Montrose Road, onto Seymour Avenue, and returns to Ardenne Road, where participants will cross the finish line.
Registration costs are J$2,000 for adults and J$1,500 for students, with proceeds directly benefiting the wellness centre.
Terrence Ram, the head boy at Ardenne, emphasized the need for the centre, explaining that expanded facilities will provide students with a safe place to connect, relax, and engage with guidance staff. “The Ardenne Wellness Centre will give students a space to interact with guidance counsellors, share their thoughts, and develop personally,” Ram said.
The launch was attended by several prominent supporters, including school principal Jacqueline Pinto, Ardenne Alumni Association President Dr. Winston De La Haye, alumni, foundation members, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, including Takese Foga, Director of Health Promotion and Education.
The Ardenne Optima 5K Run/Walk is poised to bring together students, alumni, and community members in a meaningful effort to foster a culture of wellness at Ardenne High School and build a lasting resource for future generations.
Samuda empathizes with Comm Games Federation over scaled-down 2026 event; urges possible compensation for excluded sports
Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president, Christopher Samuda, has expressed understanding and empathy toward the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) as they face the challenge of hosting a scaled-down version of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
With the event, traditionally a grand celebration of sport, culture, and unity, being reduced in size due to economic pressures, Samuda acknowledges the difficulties facing the CGF while also stressing the need to find ways to address the impact this decision will have on several sports that have been cut from the programme.
Diving, rugby, squash, badminton, table tennis, hockey, triathlon, and cricket are among the sports that will not feature in the 2026 edition.
The CGF initially struggled to find a host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year, before Glasgow, known for its rich sporting history as a host city—including hosting the 2014 edition of the game—stepped in to save the 2026 Games. However, this comes with the reality of hosting a more compact edition than previous iterations.
For Samuda, the situation is an unfortunate but understandable outcome in a global landscape.
“The circumstances in which the Commonwealth Games Federation unavoidably found itself inevitably led to a scaled-down edition of the games. I regret the exclusion of badminton, table tennis, squash, and hockey; for those sports, the Jamaica Olympic Association has earmarked for real transitioning. The CGF’s decision was clearly influenced by commercial factors and the economy of a diminished sporting agenda, for at the end of the day, the games must be viable to ensure sustainability,” Samuda said.
However, Samuda also noted that the decision to reduce the scope of the Games, which will see several sports omitted from the 2026 programme, raises important questions about the future of those disciplines within the Commonwealth sporting family.
He argued that the CGF must find ways to compensate the sports that have been excluded, as they are integral to the diversity and spirit of the Commonwealth Games.
“Going forward, however, the CGF has to develop a strategy that will compensate those sports that are being excluded so as not to lose the interest and confidence of their international federations, commercial partners, and most importantly, the players and athletes for whom sports exist,” he reasoned.
Despite the current challenges, Samuda remains optimistic about the future of the Commonwealth Games and the role it plays in uniting nations through sport. He sees the 2026 edition in Glasgow as an opportunity to innovate and adapt, ensuring that the Games remain relevant in a changing world.
The Games will feature a 10-sport programme across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, with more than 500,000 tickets made available for spectators.
Athletics and swimming are included as compulsory sports for 2026, while there will also be track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls, and 3x3 basketball.
“It is critical that the next games, while being an economic reinvention, should retain that unique traditional value that has given many sports and invaluable space on the Commonwealth sporting agenda and which have made it competitive as a sporting and commercial product amidst growing competition for the partnership dollar and public viewership and appeal,” Samuda said.
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