Jamaica’s junior and senior athletes are once again preparing to compete at the annual Penn Relays in Philadelphia, beginning on Thursday. However, Team Jamaica Bickle’s (TJB) work has played a crucial role in ensuring that the athletes are properly transitioned and comfortable as they aim to continue their dominance.

Operating for the past 30 years, the non-profit corporation has been providing welfare, such as food, accommodation, and medical services, for Jamaican and other Caribbean athletes who participate at the relay carnival.

Jamaican schools had been participating since 1964 but founder and Chief Executive Officer Irwin Clare established TJB in 1994 because he grew tired of seeing athletes and coaches struggle during the event.

“We should not have our athletes and ambassadors coming to the United States where you have one set of students having everything but another set not having the basic, at a minimum, so we felt that putting in a structure like Team Jamaica Bickle that provides meals, medical attention, friendly and safe environment, discounted hotels, help with accommodation and transportation, at least we’re satisfying the basic,” Clare told the Jamaica Observer. “Then now, it’s up to the athletes with their tenacity, with their discipline and approach to their profession and then go out and be all they can because this is very opportunistic for scholarship and their well-being.”

Being a charitable organisation, TJB isn’t blessed with an array of resources, but Clare says their work for the athletes has been fruitful with donors and sponsors.

“[We] get folks to buy into the concept and that’s where our volunteers come in who are so critical to the mainstay and continuity,” he said. “People are not going to contribute to organisations that are not worthwhile. Integrity, reputation, and transparency is important. When others see Team Jamaica Bickle, they are looking at Brand Jamaica, so we have to be sure however we handle this, it’s in a manner that is respectful of our people. Jamaica’s athletes are our most cherished assets, so whatever we do has to be consistent in a reputable manner, and we make no apologies about that. We continue to be relevant and trailblaze and look at avenues where we can provide partnerships and leverage what we do.”

TJB has been able to secure sponsorships from Grace Foods, Resorts World Casino, New York Life Insurance Company, and the Jamaica Tourist Board. However, NBA All Star and New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson stepped in recently to further grow TJB’s mission.

“We have formulated a partnership with the Second Round Foundation, which is Jalen Brunson’s foundation — his grandparents are Jamaican,” Clare said. “They found common place in what we do so we’re looking at those situations because the regular sponsors, which we’re grateful for, many are suffering from sponsorship fatigue and we can’t all be playing in the same ballpark and going after the same persons. We have the ilk and have to step up and step out.”

TJB celebrates 30 years this weekend and Clare says his passion for the students has made the journey worth the effort.

“Less than a percent of all our athletes will be World Champions or Olympians so the question is: What about the other 99 per cent?” Clare said. “It is imperative that whatever we do, we bear that in mind. So if we’re in a position to provide a platform that they can highlight their talents, get scholarships, or prepares them for the world, then can buy a house for their mother, then we’re doing something positive. It’s not about those who will win and get accolades, but what about those who came fourth, fifth, sixth? That’s what keeps me at this, because we have to make sure that we’re covering those bases because that’s where the population of impact will come from.”

There is a view that the Penn Relays isn’t as significant as it used to be due to the increased popularity of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, but Clare still believes its relevance will never die.

“I have not seen a reduction in those going to the Penn Relays, so that tells you something,” he said. “You look at the landscape today where athletic championships are rare, even the Commonwealth Games that are being questioned, that’s not a question for the Penn Relays.

“We’re not in a position where we solicit or encourage people to come. Those persons decide to come to the Penn Relays and we make sure their experience is one that is worthwhile for themselves, their schools, and the country — not only from an athletic standpoint, but from an economic standpoint, because it’s also a platform to showcase Brand Jamaica. It still represents the largest gathering for Jamaicans for any sporting situation overseas and that is important.”