Help for athletes - Grange delivers financial assistance for Olympic hopefuls

Minister of Sport Olivia Grange hopes that a financial assistance programme valued at between $50 and $70 million, will galvanise Jamaica’s prospective Olympians in their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics this year.

Grange was speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus, where she officially launched the Athlete Assistance Programme.

The initiative, which was first announced at Asafa Powell’s statue unveiling ceremony last month, involves the provision of a monthly stipend of $20,000 per week to assist athletes, who have either qualified for, or are on the verge of qualifying for this year’s Games. The programme will run for 18 weeks.

Paralympic athletes competing in the Paralympic Games in August will be eligible to receive support starting in April. The total amount of money allocated for the programme is estimated between $50 and $70 million.

Motivation

“This also should serve as motivation for you to work hard to maintain the standard so you will continue to get the support,” Grange said. “As you continue your preparations, know that you do so with our love and support.”

The criteria for selection includes athletes meeting the respective qualifying standard for their respective sport.

Additionally, athletes may be considered once the local governing body for their sport recommends them based on their potential to meet the qualifying standard. The list of athletes and disciplines will be adjusted as needed.

The athletes will also benefit from the insurance programme that will assist in any medical expenses.

According to Grange, 135 athletes who have been vetted by their respective sporting associations are eligible to receive such support from the following seven disciplines: athletics, aquatics, canoeing, gymnastics, rugby seven’s (both men and women) and table tennis.

Grange also highlighted the Ministry’s position as concerns are heightened over the Coronavirus and its implications for the Olympics.

She said that the Ministry will be taking direction from the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health as to how to proceed going forward but will be readying themselves for the Games in the meantime.

“I have to be guided by the position that the Ministry of Health takes. We can’t do anything more than that.

We are preparing ourselves to go to the Olympics but we have to certainly monitor what’s happening and also to await the Ministry of Health’s guidance,” she said.