The imminent elections of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) are destined to be ceremonial.

Information obtained indicates that incumbent JOA president Christopher Samuda and sitting treasurer Nichole Case are unopposed, while members of Samuda’s slate, whose positions are being contested, have received overwhelming support.

Samuda’s slate includes incumbents first VP Jacqueline Cowan and second VP Robert Scott, as well as sitting directors Gary Peart and Laurel Smith and newcomers Nicole Grant Brown, president of the Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association, Karen Anderson, president of Squash Jamaica and Anthony ‘Billy’ Wilmot, president of the Jamaica Surfing Association. 

The slate has garnered 98 per cent of nominations received, with each member receiving, individually, nominations from more than 80 per cent of member associations and federations.

First vice president Cowan, who is the president of the Jamaica Volleyball Association, has as her opponent Raymond Anderson, the former longstanding Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) VP who was defeated last year by Michael Ricketts in the association’s top presidential elections. Anderson is without an association.

Ian Forbes of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) returns once more in a bid for the office of second VP after being soundly beaten by Scott in the last JOA elections in 2021.

Both Anderson and Forbes have only been nominated by two associations, while a nomination was received from one of those associations for Osayimwese Osagboro, a retired teacher and president of the Jamaica Wrestling Association.

The elections will be held next Wednesday (August 13).