The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) continues to manifest the importance of a corporate governance structure in sport, with smooth transition to its programmes.

Most recently, the apex body for sport in the country unfurled the JOA Internship, JOA Scholarship and Advanced Sports Management programmes to widen the educational and business-related scope of, by and large, its total membership, which extends to national sporting bodies and the members at their core, athletes.

“Any successful sport organisation must have as its foundation a good corporate governance framework because that dictates all operational functions of that association. And that is where we began when my administration took over,” said Christopher Samuda, president, JOA.

“We were able to change the corporate structure of the Jamaica Olympic Association not only to reflect what is current in our sport organisations regionally and internationally, but also to customise it to ensure that it fulfils our objectives and goals that we have established as a corporate body.”

CEO Ryan Foster says “sport not only impacts lives, but it also impacts livelihoods”.

“This, of course, is a critical deliverable of this new administration, as we see it as a way we can continue the professionalism of sport and the reach we can have,” he said.

Currently ongoing, the internship programme ultimately targets monetising value by developing the business portfolio of its affiliates through the preparation of business and strategic plans, social media management, securing corporate sponsorship and administrative duties.

Finance is a key element of success and more money was earned to facilitate more growth in sport through the implementation of new things — many of which had never been done before —to create new lines of funding.

Former GraceKennedy CEO Douglas Orane commended the JOA’s corporate governance practices during his keynote address at the RJRGleaner Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportsman of the Year Awards.

“The key to maximising the commercial benefits of sport resides in building partnerships between specific sports and companies with a long-term commitment so that the power of branding between the sport and the company is synergised,” said Orane.

Part of the system is funding. Global sport gear manufacturers, Puma, had been leading the JOA sponsors’ charge for years and the inclusion of others with multi-year, multimillion deals such as Cartan, Mayberry Investments, Starlight Productions and Toyota Jamaica, swelled the coffers to present greater opportunity for athletes trotting the globe for elite training and competition geared towards Olympic qualification.

“There is no greater reward than participating in projects such as those run by the JOA, projects that provide tremendous exposure of Jamaica to the world, facilitate development of our citizens and truly represent us as a nation and our spirit,” observed Arjune “OJ” Bewley, owner and principal director, Starlight Productions.

Commenting on Mayberry Investment’s contribution, Gary Peart, CEO, said: “Over the years, our corporate social responsibility initiatives have focused on community building and we will continue to do so through our work with the JOA. We are pleased with the opportunity to work with Mr Samuda and his team to help shape the lives of the many Jamaican athletes contributing to national pride and the perpetuation of Brand Jamaica.”

Recently, the JOA collaborated with one of its partners, the Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA), for its online ‘We Train’ workout sessions during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The sessions, tailored for athletes at all levels and sporting disciplines, was facilitated by 20 personal trainers provided by the JABBFA, physiotherapists, dietiticians, doctors and other health personnel and was live streamed on the JOA’s website, Instagram and Youtube.

The Jamaica Rugby Union (JRU) has benefitted through JOA funding with both men’s and women’s national teams reaping unprecedented successes on the world stage. Its chairman, Jerry Benzwick, endorsed the JOA’s corporate governance that proved instrumental.

“I think the president has a clear vision. He has translated this to his team and all the member associations and we’ve accepted it,” observed Benzwick.