JOA finalising details of Olympic camp ... Track and field stars to train at Rio Naval base

Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president, Mike Fennell says plans for the nation's Olympic camp at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5-25 are going smoothly, as the JOA have already acquired a base for the camp, which will commence on July 24.

The JOA boss told The Gleaner they will be holding two camps, one for athletes and another for the swimmers. But while the track and field representatives will use a Rio de Janeiro Naval Base (CEFAN), which is a physical education centre of the navy and the training site of several civil and military sports, swimmer, Alia Atkinson and diver Yona Knight-Wisdom, will decide on a location of their choice.

"We have done a series of consultations with the coaches and officials from the JAAA and we have agreed on a camp at the naval base in Rio for athletics. We are also making another camp for the swimming people, Alia Atkinson and diver, Yona Knight-Wisdom, at a separate venue of their choice for pre-Olympic camp and both camps they commence on or about the 24th of July," he said.

However, pre-Olympic accommodations for the nation's representatives in other sporting disciplines will be delayed until qualifications for these non-traditional sports have been secured.

"When we know who have qualified we will make preparations for the final preparation, we won't know fully until we sign off the qualification," he said.

"We know that as far as track and field is concern we have to wait until the trials are held at the end of June and we know the composition of who is going after the JAAA have make their selection. We have one swimmer and one diver, who have already qualify, we are hoping more will qualify because we have a number of other swimmers who are close to the qualifying standard and we are hoping for more of that.

"We also have the fantastic news of a gymnast (Toni Ann Williams) qualifying and that was really tremendous. Unfortunately we didn't make it in fencing but we are still awaiting the cyclist (Marloe Rodman) and he is pretty close to qualifying and we hope he reaches the standard, plus there is also a chance for a boxer. But we won't know all of this until all the qualifying events have taken place," he insisted.