LIMA, Peru — President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), Mike Fennell, has bemoaned the fact that multi-lateral lending institutions usually overlook sport when they lend money to countries such as Jamaica.

As an example, Fennell cited the recent negotiations between the Jamaican Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for this enduring oversight or a lack of interest.

“At no time has the sporting community been consulted and certainly this is not something that is surprising because these institutions do not rank sports highly for their importance,” Fennell said.

The long-time boss of the JOA was speaking against the backdrop of a presentation by Luis Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at the 15th International Olympic Committee (IOC) World Conference Sport for All currently on in Lima, Peru.

Moreno painted Jamaica as a prime example of a country which was capitalising on the social benefits of sport despite its economic and other challenges.

“It has many problems but we should all learn this lesson,” Moreno said.

Fennell said he was pleased that Moreno had highlighted sport in his presentation, while noting that it is something which often takes a back seat in discussions among these groups.

“Not many people outside sport know the role that it can play in national development and to have it coming from that level was very important to me,” he said.

“I know from other activities that the World Bank and the IMF rarely talk about sport and they think of sport as a play thing, but we who are committed to sport and need to ensure that out governments and our leaders and people at the decision making levels accept the role of sport for what it has done and will do for our people in the future,” Fennell told the Jamaica Observer.

Fennell yesterday noted that a study had shown that sport contributes two per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP).