The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) will continue its developmental initiative dubbed ‘Olympic Invest’ to honour its commitment to athletes who are challenging for an Olympic berth in Tokyo next year, by investing JMD$40,000,000.00 in their preparation and qualifying events of the greatest global sporting event.
The ‘Olympic Invest’ campaign started in 2018 in the Gold Coast with the most successful Commonwealth Games to date in terms of medals won, the most disciplines represented and the largest contingency.
This record-breaking momentum continued for both the 2019 Barranquilla Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia and the 2019 Lima Pan American Games in Peru.
"The JOA is serious about powering our athletes in empowering them to achieve the gold medal, yes, but more importantly the platinum pride of self-accomplishment, which is an invaluable dividend of 'Olympic Invest’,” said JOA President Christopher Samuda.
With the postponement of the Tokyo Games as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which has created uncertainty and anxiety for athletes, the JOA has reaffirmed its support of Jamaica's Olympic hopefuls.
Secretary General and CEO of the island’s parent body for sports, Ryan Foster, made it clear that "2020 is on in 2021 and the JOA, irrespective of the time of an event, is prepared for all seasons, all times, in solidly backing our national campaigners in their efforts to achieve timeless gains for country and self".
Foster continues to ready the operations for Tokyo next year and is treating the event with almost scientific precision.
"Our business spreadsheet and strategic plan for Tokyo drill down to the minute and at every level there is the athlete. Every line item speaks to performance and the overall goal is 'Jamaica to the world’,” Foster emphasized.
The postponed Tokyo Olympic Games is now scheduled to take place from July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021. Despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic, the government and people of Japan promise the world a memorable spectacle and experience.
“Sport takes a lot of investment to achieve sustainable growth and the JOA is pursuing a game plan that is long term in its gains - with short and medium milestones that continue to make our balance sheet in sport healthy and bankable," Samuda said.