The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has created a path towards educational advancement of its cohort through a scholarship programme worth $6 million.

Four people will benefit with an equal value of $1.5 million dollars from the programme, which was specially designed for local athletes and sporting administrators within the JOA’s membership desirous of pursuing undergraduate studies as covered by the scholarship, but do not have the necessary financial means.

Ryan Foster, CEO/secretary general of the country’s parent body for sport, labelled the initiative “monumental”.

“The launch of the scholarship programme is monumental to the JOA. It is an expansion of the educational perspective within the Pathway to Success,” said Foster, as he highlighted the tag line under which his executive team – led by its president, Christopher Samuda – had campaigned in the race towards sporting governance.

He added: “This scholarship is in addition to the 11 Olympic Solidarity bursaries which are currently shared amongst seven member associations.

“We are just completing our advance sports management course, for which we have 22 participants represented across various member associations, namely football, aquatics, netball, hockey, gymnastics, softball, rugby, badminton, table tennis, chess, and the RJRGleaner Group, and upon successful completion will be receiving a Diploma in Advanced Sports Management from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Later on in September we will be offering a course in the business of sport, where we will be expanding the concept of how sports associations can monetise their assets and develop sustainable business models for their respective sports,” Foster stated.

A total of $500,000 per academic year, for a maximum of three years, will be awarded to each of the four successful candidates in the scholarship programme. It will be awarded to two males and two females, who participate, or are members of an organisation that participates in an Olympic sport.

“The scholarships are over three years and we believe this will give the participants the financial cushion they deserve to ensure that they achieve their undergraduate goals. The total value of the scholarships is six million over three years,” said Foster.

“The introduction of the Jamaica Olympic Association scholarships is part of the legacy that this new administration wants to leave with our valued constituent members. The bursary will assist the awardees in the quest for not only athletic advancement, but as well as their personal education. We believe in the complete athlete and administrator who not only showcase their respective athletic, coaching, and administrative prowess, but one who believes in educational progression,” he further outlined.

All applicants must satisfy the following criteria: 1) membership in an Olympic sport federation/association, which has been a member of the Jamaica Olympic Association for no less than twelve months; 2) must be an active athlete, coach, or administrator of an Olympic sport; 3) must be between 18-30 years old; and 4) must have obtained acceptance into an undergraduate programme (in the areas of study listed below) at a recognised tertiary institution in Jamaica.

The scholarship focuses on particular areas of study, coarses selected must be duly accredited by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), and candidates are required to enrol in a recognised tertiary institution in Jamaica.

Areas of study are: sport science – defined as the course(s) of study related to sports performance covering a range of fields in human physiology, psychology, and biometrics; marketing; business administration/management; management studies; and entrepreneurial studies.

The application process opens in July 2020 and applications will be available on the JOA’s website – www.joa.org.jm. Candidates must complete and submit the JOA scholarship application form, along with the acceptance letter from the prospective university/college, upon gaining acceptance into an undergraduate programme, which is expected to be around August each year. After submission of the application, the candidate will be required to attend an interview and if selected a formal letter will be sent to him/her. Among other conditions, payment will be made directly to the institution and candidates will also be required to sign a scholarship agreement.

Recipients will also be bounded by several commitments, namely maintaining a grade point average of 3.5, available to work as a volunteer or intern with the JOA or any other selected sport organisation as requested for two years, plus attend and participate in JOA-sponsored events and promotional activities as required.

Foster said the national apex body for sport will increase its developmental role.

“The JOA will continue to expand our educational perspective of sport and later on will be looking at exploiting some of the MOU’s signed for the benefit of our members, looking at such things as athlete and coaching exchange programmes,” he said.