THE Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has answered the call of Racers Track Club in a $5-million spend under its Olympic Invest programme, which is geared towards athlete and infrastructure development and events activation.

The JOA says under the programme, it will assist Racers Track Club in treating with post-event financial commitments. The club will also provide group training sessions to the JOA, and the coaches and other professionals of member associations of the JOA, on the use of the Dartfish video analysis platform. This platform allows coaches to conduct biomechanical, tactical and technical analyses of athletes and games, ensuring they have data to better develop the individual talents and teams at their disposal.

“We are grateful to the Jamaica Olympic Association for their continued support and the tangible commitment represented through this partnership,” Racers Track Club President Glen Mills said. “Their contribution goes directly towards rewarding and motivating some of Jamaica’s most promising and high-performing athletes. By investing in our talent at this level the JOA is not only supporting individual careers but also playing a critical role in elevating the national athletics programme. This is the kind of strategic collaboration that builds a stronger foundation for Jamaica’s sporting future.”

JOA’s Olympic Invest has been designed by the apex national association to build capacity, and enhance technical competencies and know-how across the spectrum of sports, all of which will redound to the benefit of athletes.

JOA President Christopher Samuda commented that, “You can’t build a sport industry without investing and reinvesting in the athlete and tools of trade, of which knowledge is a critical enabler.”

The JOA says through various initiatives — including Stamina and the Olympic Salute; its specially designed coaches’ and athletes’ scholarships; and its equipment grants — it continues to support the infrastructure of sport with strategic dollar investments.

“It is in our DNA to give value and currency beyond the finish line — where it really matters,” JOA’s Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ryan Foster said.

The JOA and the club will work jointly on a pension proposal for national athletes, to complement the existing health and personal accident insurance plan which was launched in January 2016.

“We deeply appreciate this three-year partnership between the Jamaica Olympic Association and the Racers Grand Prix,” Racers CEO Devon Blake said. “As we prepare for the Olympic Games and other global stages this support ensures that athletes are not only recognised for their excellence but are also equipped with the tools and resources to grow.”

JOA will also roll out its Olympic Destiny track and field series in collaboration with the club in 2028, the year of the Los Angeles Olympic Games. This project is designed to get athletes competition-ready for those Summer Games. Participating athletes in the series who achieve the requisite qualifying times and distances will have a direct path to the Racers Grand Prix.