The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has thrown its full support behind the highly anticipated Grand Slam Track series, a pioneering track and field competition created by American Olympic icon Michael Johnson. Kingston’s National Stadium will host the inaugural event from April 4-6, 2025, marking a historic occasion as Jamaica kicks off a global series that merges elite competition with cultural celebration in select cities worldwide.
In endorsing the Grand Slam Track initiative, JOA President Christopher Samuda highlighted the series’ alignment with the evolving nature of sports as both a business and a cultural experience. “The economy of sport is continually diversifying its product offerings,” Samuda said. “This move merits support, for yesterday’s novelty in sport is becoming today’s norm of business innovation in a global enterprise where changing the game has become a pre-requisite of staying in the game and winning the grand slam.”
The Grand Slam Track series promises substantial financial rewards for competitors, a prospect that appeals to both athletes and sports financiers. JOA Secretary General/CEO Ryan Foster outlined the benefits, emphasizing that Grand Slam Track supports the JOA’s vision for sustainable athletic growth. “The grand slam track will not only pay dividends for aspirations invested initially in sweat equity and maturing in bonus payments,” Foster said, “which is a qualitative strategy of the JOA, but, more importantly, the meets will provide self-actualising opportunities for athletes and value for money for fans.”
Beyond the prize money, the JOA sees Grand Slam Track as a platform for continuous, high-level competition, helping athletes prepare for the Olympics by fostering ongoing development through regular, intense matchups. “On the other side of the minted coin of sport, top-ranking athletes will be able to constantly measure performance against character as they compete continually against each other,” Foster explained, adding that it is “in conditioning themselves for the premier event, the Olympic Games,” that athletes will truly benefit from the series.
Drawing inspiration from other global sports formats like tennis and Formula One, Grand Slam Track aims to create an experience that celebrates the culture of each host city. This aspect particularly resonates with the JOA’s vision of sports as a cultural and economic driver. “The concept is allied to the advocacy of the JOA,” Samuda noted, “as we treat sporting events as experiences in physical culture, fan engagement, cuisine, music, entertainment, and tourism—all of which are drivers in creating a viable sports industry.”
The JOA’s backing of Grand Slam Track aligns with its commitment to sports innovation, a mission that led the association to launch the “Olympic Destiny” series in 2021. This JOA initiative was designed to prepare Jamaican athletes for the Tokyo Olympics amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Destiny series offered incentives for athletes and fostered historic performances, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s national record-setting 10.63s sprint in the 100m. That experience, Samuda pointed out, was “a first in the history of the sport,” underscoring the JOA’s commitment to driving progress and championing local talent on a global stage.
With the JOA’s endorsement, Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is poised to deliver a unique blend of high-stakes competition and cultural celebration, solidifying Jamaica’s position as a host for world-class athletic events and creating a new chapter in track and field’s evolution.
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.
The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) continues to put training and education at the centre of sport development.
Through the Advanced Sports Management Course (ASMC), a partnership with Olympic Solidarity, and its own activation “Stamina,” the JOA offers stakeholders a curriculum of practical and comprehensive principles and best practices.
Ethics, business, law, finance, brand and marketing, human resource development, science and information technology merge with other subjects in providing an inter-disciplinary menu in sport education.
The JOA directors are taking the lead and continuing to share their professional competencies and experience as well success models with sport leaders in the ASMC, another edition of which will begin later this year.
JOA President, Christopher Samuda, a prominent Attorney-at-Law and an executive board member of regional sport organisations, will construct for participants a successful sport association within a constitutional and legal framework.
JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster, will share the breadth of his expertise as a noted and well-respected Chartered Accountant and his experience as chairman of regional sport Finance Commissions in underscoring the importance of financial literacy, competence, planning, accountability, transparency and viability.
Treasurer of the apex governing body, Nichole Case, who is the Divisional Chief Information Officer for the GraceKennedy Financial Group, brings to the table her corporate credentials and know-how in information systems and technology in outlining industry policies and practices for the benefit of sport associations while established businessman and CEO of Mayberry Investments Limited, Gary Peart, will provide invaluable business principles and strategies as indispensable elements of successful sport entities.
The JOA’s clear policy of investing in training and education is geared towards creating a knowledge-based sector as a prerequisite of a sport industry. Secretary General Foster summarizes the philosophy and approach of the national institution. “You can’t create if you don’t educate. You can’t be the best if you don’t invest and we, the JOA, believe that to succeed we must take the lead” he said.
The ASMC is an internationally recognised and intense six-month educational programme covering, in depth, critical aspects of sport administration. “It’s not a talkfest but an edu-sport multi-disciplinary test” President Samuda remarked.
For the first time in Jamaica's Olympic history, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) will host a formal ceremony to honour the nation’s athletes who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Dubbed “Olympic Salute,” the event is scheduled for November 16 and will recognize and applaud the achievements of the country’s Olympians in a celebration that promises to blend tradition with modern elegance.
JOA President Christopher Samuda described the event as more than just an evening of glamour, saying, “It will be yesterday’s quintessential traditions blending with contemporary tastes, with both seated comfortably in the values of sport which we celebrate and give primacy in the Olympic movement.” Samuda’s words highlight the significance of this event, which will honour not only the athletes' achievements but also the deeper values and spirit of Olympism that guide their efforts.
Set to be an extraordinary affair, “Olympic Salute” will be a quadrennial tradition moving forward, held after each Olympic Games to celebrate Jamaica’s sporting excellence. JOA Secretary General and CEO Ryan Foster emphasized the lasting importance of such a ceremony, noting, “Excellence is not time-bound. It is timeless. So whenever and wherever the JOA observes it, we will applaud with respect and record for posterity while saluting our Olympic ambassadors, those inspired change makers of a great sporting heritage.”
While the event promises a sophisticated and grand atmosphere, with white gloves, pageantry, and all the trappings of a formal occasion, the core of “Olympic Salute” will be its solemn recognition of the dedication, resilience, and grit shown by Jamaica’s athletes. As Samuda further explained, “It is much more than deserving smiles and golden handshakes. It is a celebration of the mettle, resilience, and gravitas of the Olympic spirit exemplified in historic and gallant performances of our sportsmen and women.”
During the ceremony, the JOA will also unveil a new accolade—the Order of Pre-eminence, which will be the highest honour bestowed by the national sports body. This award is part of the JOA’s ongoing commitment to recognizing not just athletic success but also the values of integrity, sporting valour, and excellence that characterize Jamaica’s contribution to the global sporting community.
The “Olympic Salute” marks a historic milestone in Jamaica’s Olympic movement and is expected to set a standard for future celebrations of the nation’s Olympians, who continue to inspire generations with their dedication and achievements on the world stage.
Respected sports journalist Ian Burnett is set to join fellow journalists from across the Americas and the Caribbean later this month for a high-level Sports Journalism Summit in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Organized by Centro Caribe Sports (CCS), the summit will provide comprehensive training in both theoretical and practical aspects of high-quality sports journalism.
Burnett was selected by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) to participate in the program, an opportunity he regards as a significant milestone in his career. "I am deeply honored to be selected by the Jamaica Olympic Association to participate in this prestigious training programme," Burnett said. "I have had the privilege of covering numerous global sporting events. Yet, the opportunity to engage in this focused programme on journalism and sports reporting presents a new horizon for professional growth. The evolving landscape of sports journalism, coupled with the increasing demand for insightful and comprehensive coverage, requires constant refinement of our skills and approaches."
CCS, which owns and hosts the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, is driving this initiative as part of its educational agenda aimed at delivering tailored programs for sports professionals. The summit is intended to build capacity within the sports journalism community, providing journalists with the tools to deliver not just the statistics and outcomes of sporting events but also to convey the values and contexts that shape the sporting narrative.
CCS Second Vice-President, Christopher Samuda, emphasized the importance of the journalist's role in the broader sports ecosystem. “CCS will be hosting fora for sport professionals across the spectrum designed to build capacity," Samuda said. "The journalist telegraphs to an audience larger than that in his national village not only the statistics and rationale of victory, best performances, and defeat but, more importantly, values that inform thought, are defining of judgement, that contextualize past and present experiences and events in sport, and portray a future that learns from the past.”
The JOA, through its business product "Stamina" and the Olympic Solidarity Advanced Sports Management Course (ASMC), continues to promote educational initiatives aimed at sports development. JOA Secretary General Ryan Foster, who co-chairs the Finance Commission of CCS, highlighted the importance of such professional training programs. "For us at the JOA, education is dynamic to sport and sport development, and professional training provides the curriculum for growth and a return on investment. ROIs are themselves key performance indicators of a viable sporting sector," Foster stated.
CCS's inclusive approach involves utilizing the expertise of regional professionals in staging its junior and senior games as well as business forums. Burnett acknowledges the significance of this approach, noting the summit's potential to foster regional collaboration and knowledge sharing. "This programme offers an invaluable platform for sharing knowledge, discussing best practices, and exchanging ideas with fellow professionals from the region. Such a convergence of expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our collective ability to elevate the quality of sports reporting across the Caribbean and the Americas," he said.
Burnett's participation in the summit reflects the ongoing efforts to enhance sports journalism across the region, ensuring that the evolving landscape of sports is met with insightful and comprehensive coverage.
Jamaica's sporting community continues to mourn the passing of Olympic gold medalist George Rhoden on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at the age of 97. Rhoden, the last surviving member of Jamaica's legendary 4x400m relay team that won gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, leaves behind a legacy of excellence that has deeply impacted Jamaican athletics.
In the wake of his passing, Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda and Jamaica’s Minister of Sport Olivia Grange have expressed their heartfelt condolences to Rhoden’s family, friends, and the wider athletic community.
President Samuda reflected on Rhoden’s life with admiration, highlighting his commitment, resilience, and the pride he took in representing Jamaica on the global stage.
“A life lived nobly and with national pride on the track. A Morgan State University alumnus, who studied and learnt lessons of commitment, resilience, and excellence which he exemplified in his golden exploits in the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games and preceding Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. A Jamaican who understood the value of legacy creation in sport as a critical element of nation building," Samuda said.
He emphasized that Rhoden's life and achievements serve as an inspiration for future generations of athletes, illustrating that greatness is within reach for those who are determined.
"Olympian George Rhoden has bequeathed, generously, to the athletic world a script that we can become what we will ourselves to be and that in any endeavour your footprints will blueprint the length and greatness of your stride," Samuda added.
"My heartfelt regrets to his family who mourn his passing amidst a celebration of a life characterized by values in sport and a pilgrimage on the track, the end of which will continue to inspire the beginning of many a journey by youth."
Minister Grange also paid tribute to Rhoden, recognizing his pivotal role in Jamaican track and field history and his enduring impact on the sport.
“It’s so sad that Vincent George Rhoden, the last of the celebrated quartet that won the gold medal for Jamaica in the mile relay at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, has left us,” Minister Grange said.
She recalled the historic victory of Rhoden and his teammates Herb McKenley, Les Laing, and Arthur Wint in Helsinki, where they not only won gold but set a new world record in the process.
“The team of George Rhoden, Herb McKenley, Les Laing, and Arthur Wint took the gold in world record-breaking time in Helsinki. This they did after their disappointment in the London Olympics in 1948 when Arthur Wint pulled up in the race. Of note also is the fact that before the relay, George had beaten his close friend, Herb McKenley, to win the gold medal in the 400m,” Grange reflected.
Minister Grange also pointed out Rhoden’s significant achievements prior to the Olympics, including his world record in the 400m in 1950, a performance that set the stage for Jamaica’s future successes in track and field.
“There is no doubt that Vincent George Rhoden played his part in paving the way for future generations of Jamaican track athletes, who have certainly not let him down,” she said.
Expressing her condolences, she added, “My most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, friends, and associates. A sprinter par excellence but whose long life was more like a marathon. Rest in peace, Vincent George Rhoden.”
George Rhoden’s passing marks the end of an era for Jamaican athletics, but his legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of athletes as they strive to emulate his achievements and uphold the proud tradition of Jamaican excellence on the track.
On the brink of securing an Olympic berth in the historic city of Paris, Jamaica’s 2024 Men’s National 200m champion, Bryan Levell, has reached out to the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) for support. The JOA responded with a substantial investment of JMD$1,000,000.00 to aid his preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Levell, an Edwin Allen High graduate and a decorated Champs, Carifta, and Under-20 World Championship medalist, recently made a significant impact at the National Senior and Junior Championships where he ran a lifetime best of 9.97 in the 100m and won the national 200m title in another lifetime best of 19.97.
His remarkable performance cemented his status on the big stage and garnered the attention and support of the JOA.
In acknowledging the support, Levell expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am very proud to be the first recipient of the award, which will be very beneficial with me not having any support. By giving me this award, the JOA is supporting my dreams and aspirations."
The JOA’s swift and affirmative response to Levell’s request was anticipated. "Excellence and merit cannot be purchased; they are earned by giving it your all and do not subscribe to a ‘buy one, get one free’ mentality. It is this philosophy, this conviction, that drove the JOA to answer the call of Bryan and his team for support," stated JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster.
Foster emphasized the significance of this partnership, describing it as "more than a smile and talk; it is a handshake that acknowledges excellence, empathizes with a need, and shares in an Olympic dream that has become a reality. It is a firm handshake of mutuality that says we’re in this together in realizing Bryan’s aspirations and for Jamaica’s glory."
Levell’s manager, Damia Russell, praised Levell’s resilience and determination in the face of having "zero sponsorship." She stated, "Bryan intends to advocate and show other young boys and girls that dreams do come true and hard work works."
The JOA’s commitment to supporting athletes is further reflected in their view that "making your mark is not time-bound or dependent on a condition that you must know your place until someone gives you space. It is grasping the moment in time, creating your space, and owning a place in history, which Bryan is doing," emphasized Foster.
The JOA's President, Christopher Samuda, added, "We have a social contract with our sportsmen and women who are our business, livelihood, and lifeblood. We are delivering opportunities on a level playing field, and with this financial investment, we are levelling the vibes for Bryan now so that he can ‘tun up di vibes’ as he pursues his athletic career and academic goals."
In a historic move in 2021, the JOA inaugurated and invested millions of dollars in its own coaches’ scholarship program, complementing the existing Olympic solidarity scholarships for athletes. At the official launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in May, the governing body announced increased financial support to other athletes, including Malik James-King, Samantha Hall, Shanieka Ricketts, and Nayoka Clunis, all of whom have earned a place on Jamaica’s track and field team for the Olympic Games.
The JOA’s "Young Olympic Changemakers" award serves as an Olympic appetizer for young athletes who thirst and hunger for, and indeed achieve, excellence. Bryan Levell's journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to this commitment.
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.
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:
The Jamaica Olympic Association
June 25, 2024.
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.
The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC), the regional governing body for Paralympic sports for North, South and Central America and the Caribbean with a membership of 33 countries, has gained autonomy from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the global apex body.
The APC will now assume full ownership and delivery of senior and junior para regional games. In previous years, the IPC managed and sponsored those games but, after a period of several discussions and negotiations, the regional events have fallen to the APC and directors of the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) are playing an instrumental role in history making.
President of the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA), Christopher Samuda and JPA directors, Ryan Foster, Carmen Patterson and Winfield Boban are committing their professional expertise and experience in building the new APC.
Samuda, an attorney-at-law, is an APC executive board director and will spearhead legal and corporate governance affairs while Foster, a chartered accountant, will, as co-chairman of the Finance Commission, pilot the financial viability and fortunes of the regional body. Patterson, a corporate communications specialist, will join regional experts in delivering the brand and marketing strategies and activations of the APC and Boban will bring to the educational portfolio his knowledge and experience gained, particularly as a practitioner in rehabilitation management and prosthetics.
The IPC, the global governing body, delivers every four years the world’s largest multi-sport para event, the Paralympic Games, which this year will take place in Paris, France, from August 28 to September 8. The Santiago 2023 Para Panamerican Games, which was held in Chile, from November 17 to 26, witnessed the IPC’s last ownership of the games.
Commenting on the historic role Jamaica will play Samuda said: “It is in our sporting DNA to construct, for the able with a difference, the present and future based on values in the hope that our work and that of our colleagues will birth an apex regional sporting body of probity which history will record as revolutionary and visionary.”
Foster, advocates the imperative of a sound financial framework and base and gives a clear signal of what will be approach. “The sub-structure of any organization is crucial to the profitability of its superstructure and frugal management of expenses, innovative investment and revenue strategies as well as disciplined treasury operations are foundational to success.”
With the APC assuming ownership, there will be “a dominant focus on establishing and monetizing international partnerships and commercializing proprietary rights and games’ media broadcast rights” Samuda said “while building regional capacity through the delivery of business and technical activations during and external to games,” he further added.
Games are the lifeblood of governing regional and international bodies and Foster makes the case that “APC will be to its stakeholders more than a breath of fresh air as it will represent for them the very essence and excellence of para sports.”
The heart of the Paralympic movement across the multi-lingual continents of the Americas and the Caribbean archipelago, the APC is keeping an appointment with destiny.
While expressing an understanding for the move by World Athletics to award prize money at the Olympic Games, Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) President Christopher Samuda believes a balance must be struck to preserve the spirit of the games.
In an announcement on Wednesday, World Athletics stated that gold medal winners at this summer’s Paris Olympic Games, in each of the 48 athletic events, will receive US$50,000 (J$7.6 million). That same US$50,000 gold medal prize will be shared among team members of the winning team in relay events.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the decision to award the cash prizes reflected the efforts of track and field athletes “which attract billions of eyeballs” to the television coverage of the Olympics.
“I don’t believe this is remotely at variance with the concept that the International Olympic Committee often talks about, which is recognising the efforts that our competitors make for the overall success of the Games,” Coe said.
However, Samuda said though move is seemingly logical in World Athletics’ sight, the concept of prize money ran counter to 128 years of Olympic tradition and spirit of amateurism.
“Giving prize money for Olympic gold medalists is understandably a sign of the times and marks what appears to be a growing high tide of world opinion. You know, the professional status of sport has brought with it, inevitably, an increase in demand for rewarding merit, particularly with the emergence of a plethora of competing interests for sporting talent as part of marketing and promotional campaigns and revenue generation,” Samuda said.
“It is understandable in the circumstances. However, the priceless values in sport which Olympism embodies must be safeguarded,” he told SportsMax.TV.
According to reports, the total prize fund of US$2.4 million proposed by World Athletics will come from the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) revenue share allocation that World Athletics receives every four years.
The decision clearly blindsided the International Olympic Committee, which has never awarded money for participating or winning a medal, as it believes that to compete at a Games is reward enough.
It is the first time since the founding of the modern Games in 1896 that a gold medal will automatically come with a guaranteed monetary prize from a sport’s governing body.
“The priceless values in sport which Olympism embodies must be safeguarded as being critical to the heart, spirit and soul of sport, without which our efforts at creating a gentler and kinder humanity will be penniless. A balance has to be struck in the interest of sport,” Samuda stated.
It is expected that for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, prize money will also be extended to silver and bronze medallists.
Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Christopher Samuda has backed the decision of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to offer Malaysia £100 million (US$130 million) to host the 2026 edition of the quadrennial international multi-sport event.
In fact, the £100 million offer is said to be one of "financial and strategic support" thrown out for any potential host, as the Commonwealth Games Federation is scrambling to find a host after the Australian state of Victoria abruptly pulled out in July last year, citing spiraling costs.
Victoria's sudden move and the lack of an obvious alternative triggered debate about the future of the Games, and it is for this reason why Samuda supports the offer as significant financial investment to support the delivery and legacy planning of the 2026 edition. The Commonwealth Games were last held in Birmingham in 2022.
“The significant investment offer to Malaysia to host the Commonwealth Games is an overture that I believe is being made after careful assessment by the Commonwealth Games Federation of Malaysia’s ability to deliver given the short timeline and, in view, understandably, of the urgency of which the federation needs to act. We know the ensuing days will no doubt witness hardnose negotiations to convince the Malaysian doubting Thomas’ that it will be a win-win situation,” Samuda told SportsMax.TV.
Malaysia last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1998, and given the huge success of that staging, the Southeast Asian country is seriously considering bringing the games back to its capital of Kuala Lumpur, as a final decision is to be made by the government.
“At the end of the day, Kuala Lumpur will receive value and it won’t be mired in debt. The economic and cost benefit value and commercialization are increasingly becoming determinants for cities considering hosting international games. This, as over and above the feel good and historic significance, government and business interest are becoming acutely aware that failure may place offices, careers livelihoods and reputations at risk,” Samuda noted.
Still, even if Malaysia accepts the offer to host, the possibility exists that it could be a scaled-down version, given the timeline. However, the London-based CGF suggested that another Southeast Asian nation, Singapore, are also assessing the feasibility of its invitation to host the games.
Singapore, which is aiming to host more large-scale sports events, hosts the Formula One night race annually, and will be hosting the World Aquatic Championships in 2025. It also hosted the 2010 edition of the Youth Olympic Games.
It has been reported that having both Malaysia and Singapore co-host the 2026 edition could be another possible outcome.
Samuda pointed out that the current situation highlights the difficulty the CGF, and others face where planning and organizing large-scale sporting events are concerned. But in the same breath, he also expressed confidence in CGF president Chris Jenkins and his team to get the job done.
“The delivery of the Commonwealth Games and others is a huge financial administrative and logistic undertaking which calls for, now more than ever, innovative and dynamic media broadcast arrangements, long-term partnership agreements, creative merchandising, robust fan engagement and bullish, but sensible ticket promotion and concession strategies,” Samuda shared.
“These are the critical bucket items of revenue and must be cemented cornerstones in business models for games going forward. No doubt the Commonwealth Games Federation is attuned, and the Chris Jenkins-led executive has the credentials to reach the finish line,” he noted.
Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Christopher Samuda and chairman of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) George Soutar said the void left by Hubert Lawrence will be hard to fill, as they paid tribute to the respected track and field analysis, whose untimely passing has cast a pall of gloom over the sporting fraternity.
Lawrence, 64, who was also well-known for his authorship, and historical documentation, passed away at home on Friday.
Samuda remembered Lawrence as an authority on Jamaican and global track and field, who played a crucial role in television coverage of various athletic events, including the Olympics, World Championships, and local meets.
The veteran analyst had been an integral part of the track and field commentary for more than three decades, his passion for the sport evident in his dedicated contributions to both television and written media.
“Hubert Lawrence was not simply an encyclopedia of statistics and historical data of others, but more importantly, he was himself a landmark that gave a nation in his commentary a self-portrait in track and field. A man in the mirror vision of where an athletic fraternity stood in his development and the journey must take in order to progress and mature,” Samuda shared.
“He gave statistics context in his written and spoken word, so that players could understand the culture of the sport more, their role and responsibility, and be guided by the principles of Olympicism, which is pen-inked in personalizing successive Olympic Games. The Olympic family mourns his mortality, but is assured and assures his family that his soul now rests eternally,” he added.
Beyond his on-screen presence, Lawrence was a prolific author, having written and co-authored significant books on track and field. Some notable works include "Champs 100" in 2010, "The Power and the Glory: Jamaica in World Athletics, From World War II to the Diamond League Era" in 2012, and "50 Days of Fire" in 2022.
Lawrence, who Soutar described as a true champion for athletes and sports development in Jamaica, inspiring generations with his passion and knowledge, leaves behind a profound impact on the track and field community in Jamaica and beyond.
“He was well known for his balanced and insightful commentaries and interviews, not only to local sports but also in the region and internationally.
“Jamaica has lost a dedicated, and one of our most knowledgeable sports analysts and commentators. On behalf of the Sports Development Foundation, our condolences go out to his family and the sports fraternity,” Soutar said.
The Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) will be hosting the Regional Sports Training for Boccia, and Track and Field, scheduled for March 13 -15, 2024.
The training, to be conducted under the guidance and expertise of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), is designed to provide technical and skills-training support to top para-athletes and their coaches, technical staff and referees.
Attendees will come from Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, and Barbados Bermuda, Grenada, Guyana Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands.
The objective is to effectively prepare participants for representing their countries in future competitions.
“Historic,” was the word used to describe the initiative by Jamaica Paralympic Association President, Christopher Samuda.
“It is the first time an IPC training session for coaches and technical officials in two sports is being held simultaneously in the Caribbean for regional stakeholders,” Samuda said at a press conference at the Jamaica Olympic Association headquarters in Kingston on Friday.
“Where is this leading us? Establishing Jamaica as a hub for regional and international technical training and capacity building and the forum next month will be a driver,” he added.
The activities will conclude with the Velocity Fest on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the National Stadium, where athletes will showcase their newly acquired skills.
This will also be the first time in the history of the Paralympic movement that a world certified technical official will preside over the meet. That world certified technical official is Sodia Peters.
“This has always been a dream of mine and to see it become a reality, I am very happy. I’m very elated to represent Jamaica at the highest level,” said the World Para-Athletics Technical Delegate.
“I want to be the first of many and I want to impart the knowledge that I’ve garnered to ensure that we are living up to the international standards here in Jamaica, not only producing world class athletes but we need world class officials, technical delegates and coaches in Jamaica as well,” she added.
This will be the second consecutive year that para-athletes will be competing at the Velocity Fest.
More than 20 para-athletes will be participating in the meet in areas such as long jump, shot put, the sprints and the 400m.
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