Jamaica’s Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia “Babsy” Grange has presented J$26-million (approx US$290,000) to the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) in support of this year’s Jamaica International Track and Field Invitational Meet to be staged by the JAAA on Saturday, May 2.
At the presentation ceremony, held at the Sports Development Foundation headquarters at Phoenix Avenue in St. Andrew, Grange said that this year’s staging of the Jamaica International Invitational is special since it follows immediately after the Beijing Olympics at which Jamaica’s performance was exceptional.
Reminding her audience of the “attractive line up of athletes scheduled to take part this year, Minister Grange described the Jamaica International Invitational as “one of the best international track and field meets in the world.”
She congratulated the JAAA for the professional way in which the meet hs been organized over the years, saying that it was now established as a “top class brand”.
“We must see to it that the Jamaica Invitational continues to move from strength to strength, providing maximum exposure internationally for our athletes and our country.”
The Sports Minister also commended the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) for continuous quality support for the development of sports in Jamaica.
JAAA’s President Howard Aris thanked Minister Grange and the SDF for the donation. “And Minister we appreciate the interest you have taken in sports development since you took office,” Aris told Minister Grange.
The Chairman of the SDF, David Mais said that the SDF was pleased to be assisting the JAAA to organize the Jamaica Invitational which is being hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
Mais said this year there would be a fun day in Ocho Rios for the athletes on Sunday May 3, the day after the Jamaica Invitational.
About Mark Lee
Mark Lee has been a long-time journalist writing, editing and producing in print, radio television and new media.
