Fraser-Pryce calls for resumption of sports

Double Olympic gold medal winner and four-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is calling on the authorities to rethink the idea of holding off on issuing permits for the resumption of sports locally.

Following the announcement by the Government to resume some sports under strict protocols, there has been hesitation from some stakeholders, who have argued that the Government should hold off on granting permission for the resumption of sports, due to the spike in COVID-19 numbers nationally.

Fraser-Pryce took to her personal Facebook account to voice her opinion in a lengthy statement, where she highlighted that there was no evidence that sporting events, which have no spectators in a stadium or where spectators are socially distant, have contributed to or are likely to contribute to a further spike in cases locally.

The diminutive sprinter is urging the authorities to put proper structures in place and follow the protocols adopted by those sporting entities overseas to have a safe resumption of sports locally.

“I am confident it is not beyond us here in Jamaica to put in place similar systems to limit the risk of Covid-19 spread while at the same time allowing for reasonable resumption on the Sports industry which has contributed so much to Brand Jamaica.

It is my view that in the interest of the athletes, along with the national and global psyche and the thousand who depend on the industry, we should strongly resist talk of "holding off" on the process allowed for a formal but control and safe resumption of Sporting events,” said Fraser-Pryce.