The Jamaica Gymnastics Association has received a boost in the form of well-needed equipment from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
In response to a recent request from the JGA, the FIG, in partnership with Spieth Gymnastics, has agreed to provide, free of costs, a complete vault set with springboard and landing mats and a set of uneven bars and landing mats.
President of the Jamaican Association, Nicole Grant, confirmed the news to Sportsmax.TV on Wednesday.
She explained that the association reached out to FIG in response to several requests to host events which they were unable to because they lacked the necessary equipment. The association, she revealed, is still in need of several additional pieces.
“We have been getting numerous requests to host FIG Certified events but without the certified equipment we can’t host,” Grant said.
“We now need one FIG Certified Balance Beam and we will be on our way for the girls. We have a way to go for the boys.
“Our gymnasts have also been improving at a rapid rate and as they get to higher levels the degree of difficulty also increases which requires safer equipment. The current stock of equipment we have is training equipment and the more technical skills are harder to execute on them.”
Notwithstanding the shortfall, she expressed gratitude to the world governing body for helping them fulfil a need.
“We are very thankful to the President of the FIG, Mr. (Morinari) Watanabe, who has been doing an awesome job in focusing a little more than on smaller countries involved in the sports as part of his mantra to develop gymnastics worldwide. We are super appreciative of his generosity,” she said.
“We are also very grateful to Naomi Valenzo, President of the Pan American Gymnastics Union for helping to make this request a reality. Naomi has also been working very hard to help countries like Jamaica and the Caribbean develop our gymnastics program and infrastructure.
“We would also like to express our gratitude to Mr Buompane, FIG Presidential Commission, Ms Olivia Billie Pena, FIG Coach, Education Programs Manager and all the staff who helped to make this a reality.”
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.
Alana Reid goes pro; signs with Auctus Global Sports
National Under-20 100m record holder, Alana Reid, is now a professional athlete after signing with Auctus Global Sports, the management company announced on Instagram on Monday.
“We proudly welcome our newest addition to the AMP Global Sports Family! Give a warm welcome to Alana Reid, a phenomenal athlete with a personal best of 10.92! Get ready to witness her unstoppable determination as she takes on new heights with us! Welcome aboard, Alana!” the post said.
She joins the likes of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Akeem Bloomfield and Kenny Bednarek as a part of Auctus Global Sports.
Reid, who originally committed to competing on the NCAA circuit for the University of Oregon next season, has decided to turn professional after a remarkable 2023 season thus far.
The 18-year-old won the Class 1 sprint double at the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships in March, including her sensational 10.92 effort in the 100m. She ran 23.08 to win the 200m crown.
From there, Reid dominated with 11.17 to win Under-20 100m gold at the 50th Carifta Games in Nassau, The Bahamas in April.
In her first outing against pros, Reid ran 11.08 for third in the 100m final at the USATF LA Grand Prix on May 27.
Porus Football Festival to kick-off on June 7
The highly anticipated Porus Football Festival, an annual tournament that has captivated football enthusiasts since its inception in 2016, is set to kick off on June 7th, 2023.
The event, co-founded by former JFF president Crenston Boxhill and Manchester Businessman Karam Persad, has experienced remarkable growth over the years and has become one of the premier football tournaments in Jamaica.
After a brief hiatus due to the global pandemic, the Porus Football Festival made a triumphant return in 2022, attracting a record number of participating teams and an unprecedented night attendance that exceeded 2000 patrons on a weekday. This remarkable success has cemented the event as one of the few night football tournaments in Jamaica.
Spanning six weeks, the Porus Football Festival will showcase the skills and talents of 16 competing teams vying for the grand prize of $250,000.
The tournament will culminate on July 16th with a star-studded celebrity football match, promising the presence of legendary football figures such as Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore and Walter Boyd, who delighted thousands of fans in the previous edition.
Adding to the excitement, the closing night will feature a spectacular concert, which is expected to rival prominent music festivals like Reggae Sumfest.
Last year's event boasted electrifying performances by renowned artists such as Bounty Killa, Beenie Man, Joshie, and a host of other top talents, captivating a packed venue of 10,000 spectators.
This year, the Porus Football Festival promises to deliver an equally sensational experience, with over 500 returning Jamaicans from across the diaspora anticipated to grace the event.
However, due to the severe weather system currently affecting Jamaica, the organizers made the difficult decision to postpone the festival's initial start date of June 4th to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, staff, and attendees.
This precautionary measure reflects the organizers' commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience while prioritizing the welfare of everyone involved.
The Porus community, renowned for its warm hospitality and love for football, eagerly anticipates the rescheduled Porus Football Festival on June 7th. The event promises to be a spectacle of talent, excitement, and entertainment, exemplifying the spirit of sportsmanship and unity.
Reid hopes historic addition to FIG Code of Points will aide growth of Ja's gymnastics
The overall performances may not have been polished as Michael Reid would have liked, but the Jamaican gymnast did achieve a significant milestone at the recently concluded Pan American (PanAm) Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which he hopes will serve as another catalyst to promote the sports growth locally.
Reid’s original skill performed on the pommel horse at the event in Medellin, Colombia, was accepted in the FIG Code of Points and saw him joining Caleb Faulk –who achieved the feat last year on the high bar –as Jamaicans to have etched their names in the annals of gymnastics scoring history.
But while the American-born Reid, who has been representing Jamaica since 2016 welcomed the historic achievement, he was more delighted about the attention it will bring to the island and, by extension, the efforts of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association (JAGA).
Reid only took on the pommel horse and parallel bars where he scored 11.933 and 12.467 for a total 24.400.
“It wasn't the overall result I wanted, but it provides indications of what I need to work on in training for the rest of the season. That said, I am extremely happy and proud of my new skill, it has always been my dream to have a skill in the code, but I think doing it for Jamaica makes it even more important,” Reid declared.
“President Nicole [Grant], the JAGA board and all of the senior team members, old and new, have been working hard to build Jamaican gymnastics from the foundation up.
“They have been showing local kids that they can shine and be great in the sport, especially on the biggest stages and have paved the way for them to have even greater successes. So, as happy as I am for myself, I am even happier for Jamaica’s gymnastics,” he added.
For Reid, getting the skill, a travelling backward hop over both pommels, into the FIG Code of Points, somewhat signals a changing of the tide where the dominance of the more illustrious countries is concerned.
“The Gymnastics Code book is full of skills named after Europeans, Asians and American athletes, but there were zero Jamaican skill creators until Caleb created the "Faulk" (a high bar dismount) and we have a second skill the "Reid" on pommel horse.
“So now among the Bretschneiders and Li Ningd, there is also Faulk and Reid. Even after Caleb and I retire, our skills will be in the gymnastics Code of Points forever claiming space for Jamaican athletes. I am proud of the effort and sacrifices that went into making it happen,” Reid noted.
The 30-year-old was not shy to admit that it took grit and stubborn determination to attain his current successes, as he reflected on the 2022 season which was lined with highs and lows.
Reid explained that he had to perform the great balancing act of coaching NCAA gymnastics at the US Naval Academy with his commitment to representing Jamaica.
“I had to learn to be very efficient in my workouts and with my recovery. The physical side of it wasn't a problem, but there were a lot of mental struggles with being in the gym 8-10 hours each day and still having to put out quality workouts,” the three-time NCAA All-American shared.
“So, it took a real mental shift to make it work and it also taught me that I need to focus more on enjoying the performance side of pommel and showing off the work that I have done. It took a whole year, and a dislocated finger to get it ready for competition, and everything is now falling into place which tells me that I still have more to give to this sport,” Reid stated.
And more Reid intends to give, as he has his sights set on the Paris World Cup with hopes of securing an historic podium finish.
“I do have another skill I want to present on Parallel Bars, but that is going to have to wait. My focus now is a medal for Jamaica. Paris is the next chance for that and beyond that, I would love to do anything I can to continue the growth of gymnastics in Jamaica,” Reid ended.
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