$60m allocated to assist J’can athletes
THE Jamaican Government plans to forego the usual homecoming celebrations for returning athletes, and will instead put those funds normally used to execute these festivities in a pool that will assist needy campaigners in the long run.
That plan is expected to take effect almost immediately with the return of the heroes of the Beijing World Championships, where Jamaica finished an historic second on the medals table with seven gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Natalie Neita-Headley, the minister without portfolio with responsibility for sports, told yesterday’s press briefing at Jamaica House that $60 million is now available, after reducing the celebration costs over the years.
“It has been agreed that we will forego an elaborate celebration to facilitate the provision of additional resources for an athlete development and welfare fund,” said Neita-Headley.
“In 2008, I believe some $80 million was put aside for our national celebration. A far more modest amount was done in 2012, which was in the region of $40 million. So that saved about $40 million going into a pool that is already established, giving a total pool of $60 million,” she noted.
Recently calls from some athletes who represented Jamaica at the IAAF World Championships last month have reached a crescendo as they urged institutional support from Government.
But the State’s response is that 70 athletes have been placed in a pool by the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) and will receive a monthly stipend. A set criteria has been established and it will be made public on October 1.
“Following consultations with the JAAA, an inter-ministerial committee established by the prime minister, to include the Opposition, and members of the athletes’ fraternity, the sum to be saved will allow support to be given to the JAAA, through the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), to provide a monthly stipend to a pool of approximately 70 athletes currently in the national programme and those going through the developmental process heading into Rio 2016,” said Neita-Headley.
