The Government of Jamaica (GOJ), through the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), has pledged a $35-million sponsorship to Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) for the staging of the National Senior and Junior Championships from July 6-9.

More than 400 athletes are anticipated to compete in the championships, which will feature 60 events for seniors and juniors, as they compete for seats on Jamaica’s teams competing at several international championships later this year. The championships were launched at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday.

The National Stadium is expected to be vibrating with excitement during the championships with the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, Ackeem Blake all set to compete.

The organisers are said to have already received $10 million, with the remaining $25 million to follow.

“Our athletes… significantly represent Jamaica. At both the junior and senior levels, they are among the top athletes in the world, and when they compete, they compete honestly, play by the rules, and compete hard. I’m happy we can contribute this money, and we would like to offer more, but the cake is only so big. But never before in the history of Jamaica has so much money been spent on sports,” Minister of Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange said.

Senior athletes from the nation will compete for spots at the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, which is scheduled for August 19-27. Their junior counterparts will compete for spots at the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships in July and at the Pan American Under-20 Athletics Championships in early August as well as the Under-18 Commonwealth Youth Games, also in early August.

Garth Gayle, president of the JAAA, expressed appreciation to the Government and other stakeholders for their sponsorship and financial assistance in making the championship possible.

“We appreciate your constant dedication to the development of athletics in Jamaica and find your effort to be genuinely admirable. The National Senior and Junior Championships are convincing evidence of Jamaicans’ skill and the reason we are considered as a major force in the world of athletics,” Gayle said.

“Our athletes continue to display extraordinary skills, mesmerising our spectators with their grace, their speed, their agility, unmatched tenacity. Once a Jamaican puts on the national colours and goes to face the starter, to jump or to throw, they do so with pride. So we know it will be exciting because of the intense competition, spectacular performances and history-making events that will certainly take place,” Gayle stated.

Tickets for the championship are currently available online.

On Monday, tickets will also be available at both the Jamaica Pegasus hotel and the stadium’s ticket office. While daily entries for the grandstand finish line will range from $1,000 on Thursday to $3,000 on Friday to $2,000 on Saturday to $2,500 on Sunday, season tickets will be available for $7,500.

Tickets for the grandstand are priced at $1,000 on Thursday, $2,500 on Friday, $1,500 on Saturday, and $2,000 on Sunday. Only on Friday will the bleachers be accessible, and admission will cost $500.