KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s 2024 Men’s National 200m champion, Bryan Levell, was gifted a $1-million cash investment from the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) through its “Young Olympic Changemakers” award.

An Edwin Allen High graduate and a respected Champs, Carifta and Under-20 World Championship medalist, Levell, announced his arrival on the big stage when he won the 200m event at the recently concluded National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium.

In pledging their support for Levell, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the JOA, Ryan Foster, shaking Levell’s hand, described the partnership achieved as “a handshake that acknowledges excellence, empathises with a need and shares in an Olympic dream that has become a reality. It is a firm handshake of mutuality that says we’re in this together in realising Bryan’s aspirations and for Jamaica’s glory.”

A proud Levell said he is happy the JOA sees it fit to support his dreams and aspirations.

Commenting on the JOA/Levell connection, Levell’s manager, Damia Russell, lauded Levell’s resilience and “will to win” in the face of having “zero sponsorship” and stated that “Bryan intends to advocate and show other young boys and girls that dreams do come true and hard work works. ”

For his part, JOA President, Christopher Samuda said “We have a social contract with our sportsmen and women who are our business, livelihood and lifeblood and we are delivering opportunities on a level playing field and with this financial investment we are levelling the vibes for Bryan now so that he can ‘tun up di vibes’ as he pursues his athletic career and academic goals.”

The JOA, in a historic move in 2021, inaugurated and invested millions of dollars in its own coaches’ scholarships programme, complementing the existing Olympic solidarity scholarships which it provides for athletes. At its official launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in May, the governing body announced that it had answered the calls of other athletes, and increased its athlete investment portfolio with financial support to Malik James-King, Samantha Hall, Shanieka Ricketts and Nayoka Clunis all of whom have earned a place on Jamaica’s track and field team to the iconic and greatest global multi-sport event – the Olympic games.