Satisfied that the JADCo now has the requisite resources to protect both athletes and staff in the commission of its duty, chairman of the organization Alexander Williams, believes the time is right, having announced an indefinite suspension of testing operations in April.
According to Williams the JADCo had to take the time off from normal operations to assess the risks of continuing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, without having to impact its resources.
Now, the chairman says, all safety protocols can be followed because all the equipment to do so is already in house.
The chairman was speaking at the official opening of the JADCo’s new headquarters last Thursday.
The JADCo now occupies a premises at 1 Ballater Avenue in Jamaica’s parish of St Andrew.
According to Insidethegames, Jordan, who competed in the 100m at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, might be the first Olympian to be killed by the virus that has taken the lives of more than 37,000 people globally.
Jordan posted a time of 10.95s and finished sixth in Heat 9 of the men’s 100m in Montreal where Caribbean sprinters won the gold and silver medal in the blue-ribbon sprint. Trinidad and Tobago’s Hasely Crawford won the gold medal while Jamaica’s Donald Quarrie won the silver medal.
Jordan, who was 69, was also a member of Barbados’ 4x100m relay.
Reports said Jordan ran track for Louisiana State University (LSU).
He competed for the Tigers from 1976-79 and was a member of an NCAA 4x400 champion relay team in 1979.
“I am happy to donate $500k to Telethon Jamaica – Together We Stand” Bolt posted on his Twitter account on Sunday. Bolt also helped to promote and endorsed the telethon than lasted six hours on Sunday and featured performances by some of Jamaica’s leading entertainers.
The telethon, initiated by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange, intends to raise JMD $10.5 million, which will be used in part to buy personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses on the front line of the fight in Jamaica where 72 persons have so far been confirmed to have been infected by the COVID-19 virus.
“The funds are (also) going into a dedicated fund just for that. It’s not going into government coffers. It is going into a registered charity, a special fund which will be used to purchase this equipment.”
Nationwide News reported on Monday that the eight-time Olympic gold medallist had tested positive for the Coronavirus. The news, NNN said, triggered a host of his associates and friends including football players Raheem Sterling, Leon Bailey and recording artiste Chris Martin being tested for the virus as they were in attendance at his birthday party last Friday, August 21.
However, in a 50-second video posted on Twitter, Bolt said he heard the news regarding his positive test like everybody else; on social media despite reports that indicate that he was notified by health officials on Sunday.
“I did a test on Saturday to leave because I have work,” he said.
“Trying to be responsible so I am going to stay in and stay away from my friends and also, having no symptoms, going to quarantine myself and wait on the confirmation to see what is the protocol and how I should go about quarantining myself from Ministry of Health.”
Meantime, he is encouraging those who might have come into contact with him to be safe and enter quarantine.
More than 1500 Jamaicans have been confirmed to be infected by the virus. 116 Jamaicans were confirmed over a 24-hour period between Saturday and Sunday.
In light of this claim, they have called upon the relevant authorities to immediately authorize the resumption of track and field that will allow the country to maintain its standing in global athletics.
The last track meet was held on March 20, 2021, and with the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships and the World Relays in Poland looming, Jamaica’s athletes will be at a significant disadvantage.
“The current delay is destructive. The psychological and mental damage to our athletes and coaches is almost irreparable. As a nation, we cannot afford a cancellation of ISSA Champs 2021, which the delay will cause. Not only is the competition a major pillar for our world-renowned track and field prowess, it provides the platform for student-athletes to earn athletics scholarships to overseas colleges and universities.”
JATAFCA said that the available data indicates that Jamaica’s student-athletes earn scholarships valued at over J$2 billion. This is a stark contrast to the J$85.791 million allocated in the 2019-20 Estimates of Expenditures for the Ministry of Sports for Athlete’s insurance. No other line item was identified as applicable.
“We, therefore, call upon the authorities to recognize the importance of track and field to the overall national development, the psyche and contribution to the young people of our nation. We implore them to partner with the JAAA, ISSA and their sponsors, to stage these competitions safely and successfully,” they said.
The inactivity, JATAFCA said, is due to the absence of approval by the authorities for the additional competitions organized and managed by the governing body the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA).
“We are made to understand that the authorities are concerned about the spike in COVID-19 cases and the stress on the public health system,” the JATAFCA said in a statement Thursday.
“Let it be clear that we too are equally concerned. We are, however, of the opinion that concern for public health is not diametrically opposed to the staging of COVID-19 safe track and field competitions. It is all about striking a balance, minimize the fallouts, and pursue the things we are best at.”
The coaches’ association said that over a three-week period from February 27 to March 20th, the JAAA staged 20 competitions that saw 39 junior athletes - 27 boys and 12 girls - making the very rigorous qualifying standards for the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi Kenya.
In addition, there was at least one world-leading performance from a senior athlete.
“With some 1500 juniors and close to 300 senior athletes competing in the Qualification Trial Series (QTS), there was no reported positive COVID-19 case(s) among athletes, officials or athlete support personnel,” the coaches said.
“The JAAA executed well and established a blueprint that several countries across the NACAC region, including USA and Canada, have now adopted.
“We also make the call for authorities to provide clear and immediate responses, within 24 hours, to the applications for permits now in their possession. Further delay would be tantamount to assisting our global competitors in making light of our efforts when we meet on the track or in the field later this year.
“As an association, we will continue to play our part in encouraging our members to practice all the COVID-19 protocols for mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene. They know we hold them to a high standard of compliance, a similar standard that has resulted in us being ranked third in World Athletics.”
A decision will also be taken within the next 24 hours on whether the 2020 ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships will be held this year.
The news comes on the heels of the country announcing its first case of the Coronavirus on Tuesday.
Jamaican high school and senior athletes have since the 1960s been major attractions at the relay carnival held at Franklin Field on the grounds of the University of Pennsylvania. However, in light of the rapid spread of the virus and the case announced in Jamaica on Tuesday, the Jamaican health minister said a decision is to be made about the athletes attending this year’s renewal.
More than 800 persons have been infected by the virus in the USA with more than 20 perishing.
“Decisions are going to have to be made in the not too distant future at it relates to these public gatherings. I know that Cabinet took a decision last evening (Monday) for the Ministry of Education to advise as it relates to the Penn Relays, and schools, by now, should have been advised that the Government is taking a position to not participate this year,” Minister Tufton said.
He explained that travel to Philadelphia involves levels of risk that the Government “would like to discourage.”
“As it relates to the 2020 ISSA Boys and Girls Championships, the minister said: “There is a meeting scheduled between the organisers, the Minister of Sports, the Minister of Education and myself, and the main sponsor, GraceKennedy Limited, where a decision will be taken, and that decision will be taken within 24 hours,” Minister Tufton said.
Meantime, the launch of the championships scheduled for Wednesday at the National Stadium in Kingston has been cancelled.
“Top Executives from GraceKennedy and ISSA met today, after the Health Minister’s announcement of a confirmed COVID 19 case in Jamaica. We agreed that the appropriate measure at this time would be to postpone tomorrow’s launch, and proceed with further discussions about what action should be taken in terms of the actual event,” said ISSA President, Keith Wellington. He added that ISSA was also in discussion with its associated sponsors, GraceKennedy.
GraceKennedy CEO Don Wehby said the safety of the nation's athletes were of primary concern.
“The Health Ministry has announced that infection prevention and control is a priority at this time,” Mr Wehby said. “We take COVID-19 very seriously and are concerned about the health and wellness of the student-athletes and all involved in the execution of Champs, as well as the implications for the 35,000 persons in attendance at the National Stadium especially during the last two days. This is a decision we will be making in the nation’s best interest.”
The cancellation came a day after Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, announced Jamaica’s first case of the Covid-19, an imported one.
Tufton made the announcement during a press conference at his ministry’s New Kingston offices where he said that "public gatherings are being discouraged at this time, as well as non-essential travel."
Jamaica has since recorded another imported case, with a second press conference from the minister.
Nicola Madden Greig, Co-chair of Kingston City Marathon, which benefits several local charities said that “all was in place for the eighth staging of the annual event this Sunday. However, we are mindful of our responsibility to comply with the mandates of the Ministry of Health as we all work to prevent the potential for community spread of the Coronavirus.
“We have taken the difficult decision after serious deliberations. While we know everyone was excited to participate in this year’s event, the health and safety of all our participants are paramount."
The Kingston City Marathon, which includes a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K race/walk, annually attracts over 5,000 participants and spectators from several Caribbean islands and other countries including Ireland, the UK, Denmark, Japan, Spain, Canada, China and the USA.
Apart from walking or running, the scenic Kingston route takes participants through public attractions such as Devon House and the residence of the Governor General at Kings House.
The situation is a blow to the athlete and her university as she had the fastest time of the participants in the 400m and is a key member of the A&M’s record-breaking mile relay team.
The 20-year-old former Hydel High School star in Jamaica said she was informed of the situation this morning.
“Due to Covid-19 trace, I will not be able to compete at the SECs. I do not have Covid but I was exposed two days prior to competing due to a teammate having it, and I was informed at 7:30 this morning,” a disappointed Young posted on social media today.
“It’s unfortunate but that is just the way it is and how the rules work. I do believe everything happens for a reason. Good luck to everyone competing this weekend.”
Young was supposed to begin the competition at 7:25 pm in Heat 1 of the 400m that also included Stephanie Davis of South Carolina, who has a season-best of 54.11, Taylor Manson of Florida, whose season-best is 52.74 and Jurnee Woodward of LSU, who fastest time this season is 54.85.
Young’s 51.93 season’s best is the second-fastest time in the NCAA this season only bettered by teammate Athing Mu’s 50.52 that was run at College Station, Texas on February 6. Mu is not down to compete in the 400m.
There are five heats in the women's 400m.
Young also split 51.12 in her team’s record-setting run of 3:26.27, an all-time collegiate record as well as a facility and meet record at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Centre at Arkansas, where the SEC Championships are currently being held.
She ran the second-fastest split behind Mu’s 50.27 on the anchor leg.
Despite the paramount importance of keeping healthy, Dacres understands the sacrifice athletes make to attend the high school showpiece event and is especially saddened for those who are in their final year of eligibility.
“I definitely feel it for them because they will never experience this again but I guess it’s in precaution for the whole corona situation but I know, if it was me, I’d be really hurt and they won’t have the experience so they can talk about it and everything but I guess, you know, it’s for the best,” said Dacres.
The athlete was speaking last week at the UWI Invitational after the event was controversially cancelled when the country announced its first Coronavirus confirmation.
That controversy has died a natural death however, as Jamaica has since seen that number balloon to 13 with one death, a 78-year-old man who travelled from New York.
Dacres, interestingly, was a lot less worried about the status of the Olympic Games, saying there isn’t much he could do but continue to prepare for the Games as best as possible.
“I’m a soldier. It’s not really for me to think about my programme and anything like that. It’s more for my coach. Once he has everything down, we’re good to go. Whenever it comes, it comes. We’ll just prepare properly,” he said.
To date, despite the increasing spread of the Coronavirus with more than 200,000 having been afflicted and almost 9,000 deaths, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has continued to play a wait-and-see game regarding making a decision about the Games.
“"The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive,” read a statement from the IOC.
That statement went on to implore athletes to continue preparations for the Games in earnest.
Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has a Coronavirus problem on his hands as well, but insists preparations for the games will not miss a beat and the hope is that the efficiency the country uses to, not only get the virus under control, but to get the venues ready, would convince the IOC that the show must go on.
"We will do our utmost to prepare as scheduled so that the International Olympic Committee will be convinced we are capable of hosting the games," said Abe.
Japan now has 899 cases of COVID-19 with 29 deaths.
In recent weeks, the Coronavirus has spread to 111 countries and has infected more than 100,000 people across the globe, killing more than 3000 of them. It is against this background that the Local Organising Committee of the relays has taken what they have described as a difficult decision.
“After extensive deliberations with local public health officials, our broadcast partners, sponsors and athletes representatives, it was determined that the paramount importance of the health of our citizens and the expected influx of travellers (athletes, etc) warranted us to err on the side of caution,” organisers said in a statement today.
“As such, in light of the fluidity and uncertainty related to (COVID-19), it has become necessary to postpone the 4th annual Grenada Invitational that was scheduled for April 4th, 2020.
“The improbability and flexibility of the situation changes from day to day and these uncertainties are sure to hinder in the delivery of a World Class event.”
Some of the world’s best track and field athletes were down to compete at the Grenada Invitational as they gear up for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan that is also under threat because of the spread the virus that has seen thousands of Japanese citizens being infected.
Schools in that country have been ordered closed and public gatherings have been banned until the end of April when the International Olympic Committee is expected to make a final decision on whether the Games will be held.
Similarly, the organisers of the Grenada Invitational said they will decide if and when the meet will be held this year.
“Grenada Invitational will, as the rest of the sporting world, monitor the global conditions and along with track and field’s governing body, World Athletics and our broadcast partner, a new date for the meet will be announced once the (COVID-19) is no longer a threat and normalcy in travel and other routine activities is returned,” the statement said.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 2016 double Olympic champion, 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake, and Olympic and World Champion Kirani James were to be among the headliners at the meet this year as the organizers had begun to assemble a world-class field of athletes for the meet.
Also confirmed were the likes of Briana Williams, Kendra Harrison, Asafa Powell, Justin Gatlin, and Tajay Gayle.
Alternative dates of May 4-8 have also been set for the 110-year-old championships, should there be Covid-19-related spikes during the period. The 2020 championships were cancelled because of the pandemic.
Among major changes announced by the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association that are coming for the championships is that because of the restrictions, fewer than 1000 athletes will be able to participate. This is down from the more than 2400 athletes that are usually on show.
What this means is that for events like the sprints (100,200 and 400) only 32 athletes will be allowed to enter and will be comprised of the top-two regional athletes and the next best 24.
Meanwhile, only 24 will be eligible to compete in the hurdles and 800m events. The 1500m will only have 16.
However, the decathlon and heptathlon events will have the usual number of entries but only the top 12 from the field events will be allowed.
He was 81.
Considered the architect of the modern Jamaica track programme, Johnson started a sports program at the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST) now the University of Technology in 1971. It was a programme that yielded Anthony Davis, Jamaica’s first home-grown Olympic athlete.
As head coach at CAST, Johnson, in the 1980s created the famous Bolts of Lightning 4x100m relay team, the first club side to break 40 seconds for the sprint relay. He also led CAST to a more than decade-long dominance of the Intercollegiate Championships.
It was Johnson in partnership with UTech and Stephen Francis that saw the world-famous MVP Track Club having its base on the college campus and producing a number of world-beating athletes like Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Melaine Walker, Michael Frater, Shelly-Ann Frater-Pryce and Elaine Thompson.
Johnson, who was also Sports Director at Utech, was also an outstanding athlete. While attending San Jose State University in the United States, equalled the 100-yard world record of 9.3 seconds three times over a six-week span from March 11- May 5 that year.
Unfortunately, injury prevented him from competing for an NCAA title that year.
He was a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that finished fourth at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Fifth in the 110-yards at the British Empire Games of 1962, he was forced to withdraw from the 220 yards with a groin injury.
Johnson, who was affectionately called ‘DJ’ was inducted into the San Jose State Spartans Hall of Fame. In 2001, the same year he was awarded the Order of Distinction (OD) by the government of Jamaica. He was awarded the UTech Chancellor’s medal in 2009 and in 2012, UTech renamed its athletes’ residence, previously known as the Track House, in Johnson's honour.
The May date for a final decision was arrived at during a North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) meeting on Saturday attended virtually by member federations as well as chairs of NACAC commissions and working groups.
This year’s edition of the Carifta Games is scheduled for August 13-15, in Bermuda. The regional junior meet was not held in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Bermuda transferred its hosting responsibilities to 2021.
The global pandemic eliminated the possibility of staging the Games on Easter weekend. NACAC had chosen July 2, 3 and 4 as the new dates, but was forced to postpone again because of the scheduling of Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) external exams.
The August dates, however, are now under threat. Bermuda is currently experiencing a spike in Covid-19 cases. At Saturday’s meeting, Carifta 2021 Local Organising Committee (LOC) member Mia Bean spoke about a non-negotiable requirement that any unvaccinated visitor to Bermuda must be quarantined for 14 days.
Since the vaccination requirement would impact all under-17 athletes as well as some of the under-20s, it is a major stumbling block. Other potential challenges were put on the table, including the impact of positive Covid-19 tests during the Games, available hotel rooms, and timelines for booking charters and making payments.
Following extensive discussions, the Carifta 2021 LOC was given until April 30 to report to the NACAC Council on the latest situation with all the issues raised at the information session. The LOC is expected to meet with Bermuda Government officials before the month-end deadline.
Following receipt of the Bermuda LOC report, the NACAC Council will make a decision and communicate it to member federations.
All are asymptomatic and are in isolation and will not be able to depart Nairobi until September 2. The Jamaica team medical staff have remained with the nine persons and they will be accompanied home by senior staff including the medical personnel who have also remained with the group.
The main body of athletes and staff are now on their way home, the JAAA said.
Jamaica won 11 medals - three gold, six silver and three bronze - at the championships that concluded on Sunday, their second-best medal haul at the championships. Seven of those medals were won on Sunday’s final day when the girls 4x100m relay team set a new world record of 42.94.
Nationwide radio reported on Monday that the now-retired 100m and 200m world record holder had tested positive for the virus.
Bolt, who celebrated his 34th birthday last Friday, is among the latest numbers of Jamaicans to have tested positive to the virus that has infected more than 1500 Jamaicans to date. Fifteen of those infected have died.
