KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange today announced that Troy Primary School in Trelawny will be renamed in honour of one of Jamaica’s greatest athletes, Veronica Campbell Brown.

Grange made the announcement at the Jamaica Pegasus today as she spoke at the launch of the 2018 VCB 5K Run/Walk Race scheduled for Vere in Clarendon on January 21.

“Plans are well advanced for Troy Primary, which occupies a building which is over 100 years old, to be renamed for Veronica. It is one of the Jamaica 55 Legacy Projects,” the minister said.

She also said that the old teacher’s cottage at Troy Primary would be restored subject to approval from the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and that the school building and property would be renovated.

Campbell Brown, an eight-time Olympic medallist, attended Troy Primary before going on to Vere Technical High School for her secondary education.

The minister also announced that the contract had been signed for the erection of a statue of the athlete at the National Stadium. “The VCB Statue will be done and ready for unveiling by the end of this year.”

Grange said that Campbell Brown, after enjoying an extraordinary career which had put her amongst those who are the world’s most successful track and field athletes, had decided to give back to Jamaica “in a big way” with the establishment of the VCB Foundation in 2011 and inauguration of the VCB 5K Run/Walk in 2016.

“As we know, the foundation provides financial support and mentoring to girls attending Vere Technical High School, St Andrew Technical High School and Troy and Erwin High Schools. The foundation will expand to eight schools this year.

So far Veronica has given over $2 million of her own money to the work of the foundation.

“Not surprisingly, being the athlete that she will always be, VCB also came up with the idea of a 5k Run/Walk providing an opportunity for supporters and well-wishers to join her on her mission to empower young women to achieve.

“The event certainly has the endorsement and support of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.”

Acknowledging that Jamaica’s athletes in general had helped “to put us on the map” and assisted immensely in strengthening Brand Jamaica, Grange pledged that the Government would do all that it could to support the athletes.

She hailed Campbell Brown as being not just a great athlete but also a great Jamaican woman.

The launch function ended with the sprinter presenting Grange with a pair of her running shoes from the Beijing Olympics and one of her running outfits from the London Olympics. The items will be placed in the Sport Museum.