Local gymnastics association to host international technical meeting
PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association (JAGA) Nicole Grant-Brown is beaming with pride after her organisation gained the attention of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to the extent where the island will play host to the FIG technical committee meetings.
Several members of the committee, including the respective men’s and women’s presidents and vice-presidents, are expected to arrive in Jamaica today for the four-day meetings scheduled for to begin on Friday and end on Monday.
The FIG technical committee is responsible for all code of points and the technical direction of artistics gymnastics.
“Obviously this is a big deal for us because Jamaica is in the Pan Am region and so for us to have the opportunity to host this meeting is another milestone in our development. It also means that we have gained the attention of the world governing body, which is an even more exciting prospect,” Grant-Brown told the Jamaica Observer.
“We are hoping to make a good impression as first-time host because our intention is to try and bid for the congress, which is the major one. Once we achieve success with this meeting I believe it would put us in consideration for congress or any other FIG events that we bid for so, again, we are super excited,” she added.
Another aspect of this hosting privilege that delights Grant-Brown is having the committee members prejudge the country’s qualifiers for the Pan American Youth Championships in December, as part of their preparation.
“We are even more excited and appreciative that the president and vice-president of the FIG technical committee have decided to arrived two days early to see our national junior elite athletes as they prepare for the PAGU Youth Tournament in Colombia.
“Their assessment of the athletes is truly important to help with preparations because they will advise them how to capitalise on their technical abilities,” Grant-Brown shared.
On that note, the president also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), as well as Elite Diagnotic for coming on board on short notice to make the meetings possible.
The Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) committees will have their meetings simultaneously in separate conference rooms at Oceans Coral Springs Hotel in Falmouth.
“I can’t say how much I am grateful to those that have partnered with us to ensure these meetings can go ahead. We are also pleased that the Pan American Gymnastics Union president will also be visiting during the meetings. She was very instrumental in getting the FIG to donate much-needed equipment last month,” Grant-Brown noted.
— Sherdon Cowan