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The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) is injecting J$14.5 million into the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to finance the national senior and junior trials as well as several other meets.

The agreement, dubbed ‘Olympic Destiny’, will be a major boost to the nation’s athletes gearing up for the Olympic Games and other international meetings this season.

 “The Jamaica Olympic Association is pleased to mark the consummation of this partnership with the JAAA in this ceremony. Today’s signing of this partnership, dubbed ‘Olympic Destiny’, represents another milestone for both the JOA/JAAA,” said Ryan Foster, secretary general/CEO of the JOA, during a press conference to announce the agreement on Monday (May 10).

“With trademark vision and purpose, the JOA will unite with the JAAA for the execution of four track and field events between May and June 2021, culminating in the National Senior and Junior Trials in June, which will be used to select our men and women at the upcoming Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games,” Foster said.

“The JOA, in the first instance, will invest $7 million in these four events – dubbed the JOA/JAAA Olympic Destiny – and a further $7.5 million in the National Senior and Junior Trials, a total investment of $14.5 million.”

Foster said he hopes the investment will allow Jamaica’s athletes to continue their preparation for the Olympic Games and also for a greater cause to restart their lives and their careers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

JAAA President Garth Gayle said track and field athletes have been yearning for this opportunity.

“Since last year March, many of our athletes have not been able to earn from the sport that they love and this initiative has brought about an opportunity for us to showcase our athletes and give them an opportunity to earn,” said Gayle.

“This is the first such initiative where a federation has been supported by the Olympic body (in such a manner) and so we are very happy and elated about that.”

In the meantime, JOA President Christopher Samuda noted that the support being provided to the JAAA fits their mandate and will be replicated through the years.

“From the very inception of this administration in 2017, we indicated quite clearly that part of our policy is to build partnerships, solid partnerships and to monetise those partnerships.

“The JAAA is a treasured member of the association. We always look towards ensuring that our relationships in the industry are built on solid foundations.”

“We exist because the athletes exist, our primary assets are the athletes and therefore we must do all within our power, all within our control, to ensure we condition them, that we give them the support and that we give them an equal opportunity to transcend and to transition to the international stage.”

Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association

Samuda underscored the historic nature of their agreement and its prospects for the success of Jamaica’s athletes.

“So this is a historic partnership, we are going forward with it and we are going to be creating further partnerships as well. The policy of the administration is to create partnerships, monetise partnerships and to ensure that they redound to the benefit of Jamaica,” he said.

“We are going to be building the partnerships beyond this year because the interest of the athlete is central to the policy of the Jamaica Olympic Association and also the JAAA.

“We exist because the athletes exist, our primary assets are the athletes and therefore we must do all within our power, all within our control, to ensure we condition them, that we give them the support and that we give them an equal opportunity to transcend and to transition to the international stage.”