Record attendance at JII Meet
THE largest crowd in the seven year history of the meet turned out for yesterday’s Jamaica International Invitational track and field meeting at the National Stadium.
Independence Park Limited’s (IPL) general manager Major Desmon Brown, who is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the stadium, estimated the crowd to be around 19,000 at press time, with hordes still on the outside waiting to come in.
“It’s good so far,” Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president Howard Aris agreed.
Brown told the Observer he was pleased with the response despite the IPL’s recent wrangling with the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) and Kingston mayor Desmond Brown about the safety of the 40-year-old facility and the need to make repairs before the meet being allowed to go ahead.
The latest inspection was held last Thursday and IPL was given the “all clear”.
“Thank God the issues with the mayor didn’t cause any problems,” Major Brown said.
In fact, Brown surmised that the mayor’s statement might have helped to draw a larger spectatorship to both this meet and March’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ & Girls’ Athletic Championships.
“It probably helped in getting more people here because whether the stadium would be ready or not in time for the meet was always in the front of people’s minds,” he stated.
He added that improved marketing, the pre-meet entertainment package as well as the quality of the athletes would have caused the improved attendance.
… 32 boys from children’s homes guests of Bolt
THIRTY-TWO boys from five children’s homes across the country were special guests of double World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt at yesterday’s Jamaica International Invitational track and field meet at the National Stadium.
The boys, from Summerfield, Muirton, Alpha Boys, National Children’s, Mannings and St Augustine Boys’ homes were seated in section F of the grandstand.
They were accompanied by national co-ordinator Audrey Budhi and managing director of United Way of Jamaica, Winsome Wilkins.
United Way of Jamaica operates as a Project Management Unit for the world record-holder. Bolt purchased all 32 tickets for the boys.
