JOA preparing for busy competition period

Fresh from Jamaica’s medal-winning performances at the recent Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Christopher Samuda, says it is ramping up preparations for a busy period of international competition.

“We have the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, and we’ll be sending a delegation to that. Then we have the Pan American Games next year,” Samuda told STAR Sports.

Jamaica ended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with 19 medals comprising 10 gold, four silver, and five bronze.

Meanwhile, the country’s athletes tallied 11 medals at the CAC Games in Santo Domingo with one gold, four silver, and six bronze.

With the nation’s athletes setting their sights on more success at other major championships, the JOA boss noted that “… for our member associations, we’re highly involved in their own competitions”.

FOCUS

The JOA reasoned that the focus goes beyond competition, with the association also prioritising the long-term development of athletes across its member sporting bodies.

“… We have several competitions for the remainder of this year and next year that our member associations will be participating in, and we’ll be supporting them,” said Samuda.

“Some of them, of course, will be qualifications for the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games, and that, of course, is very vital to us.”

The JOA president added that other athletes will just be competing with the aim of self-development.

“So we’re not only in the business of competition, but we’re in the business of developing talent in the respective sports,” he said.