Help needed for COVID-19 relief – JAAA
Published:Monday | May 25, 2020 | 12:12 AMAkino Ming/Staff Reporter
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Warren Blake is still hoping that the Government will assist athletes whose earning potential has been affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Blake said that the association has been supporting more than 30 athletes, but says it cannot providing the funding for all the athletes who need help.
“We are still giving some of them some financial support from the federation’s coffers,” Blake said. “We had hoped the Government would step up and give some assistance, but that has not yet materialised.
“The athletes who we are helping are not elite athletes. Those with contracts are not qualified for help from us, but the ones without contracts, we are trying our best to support them.”
He says the JAAA is also encouraging athletes who are qualified for the World Athletics grant to apply.
“We are also trying to get them to apply for the World Athletics grants, but that is for a limited number of people, because it is for those athletes who have already qualified for the Olympics,” Blake said.
Application for the grant opened on May 15 and will be closed at the end of the month.
In April, World Athletics and the International Athletics Foundation announced that a US$500,000 (just under J$73 million) welfare fund had been created to support professional athletes who have lost a substantial part of their income because of the suspension of international competition this year.