Sat | Jun 15, 2024

JOA green light for pre-Olympics camp

Published:Thursday | June 3, 2021 | 12:10 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
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Several Jamaican athletes walk together after a training session at Jamaica’s pre-Olympics camp at the University of Birmingham ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Tuesday, July 25, 2012. From left are: Kaliese Spencer, Christine Day, Shericka Wil
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Several Jamaican athletes walk together after a training session at Jamaica’s pre-Olympics camp at the University of Birmingham ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Tuesday, July 25, 2012. From left are: Kaliese Spencer, Christine Day, Shericka Williams and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price. Running to catch up to the group is Latoya Greaves in the background.
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Despite the constant rise in COVID-19 cases in Japan, the host of this year’s Olympic Games, Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), said his organisation is going ahead with plans to stage a pre-Olympic camp in the...

Despite the constant rise in COVID-19 cases in Japan, the host of this year’s Olympic Games, Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), said his organisation is going ahead with plans to stage a pre-Olympic camp in the country.

Several countries as well as Japanese cities have scrapped pre-Olympic camps, as the host country struggles to control the spread of the virus, which has so far resulted in over 13,000 deaths and 750,000 cases. Additionally, with less than two months to go to the start of the Games, less than 3 per cent of the Japanese population has been vaccinated.

Nevertheless, Samuda said that plans are still in place to stage a two-week pre-Olympics camp for Jamaican athletes in the Tottori prefecture, and assured that everything will be done to ensure the safety of the Jamaican athletes and support staff.

“There are no fears at all because I had indicated that of the Tottori Prefecture in Japan, they have the lowest count of COVID-19 cases, and a report came out to say that they have the most robust system in combating COVID-19,” said Samuda.

Tottori has recorded a total of 467 COVID-19 cases with 423 recoveries and two deaths.

“We in fact are very confident that the Tottori Prefecture are taking the necessary steps in order to ensure that there is a safe environment,” he added. “That is our duty ... to ensure that everything is in place to safeguard the athletes, and that we are looking at the situation with a very critical eye as we approach Tokyo.”

Samuda pointed out that all the athletes, coaches and management staff will be thoroughly updated about the protocols and guidelines prior to their departure for Japan.

“We will be giving all managers, athletes and coaches a full brief in respect to the protocols that will have to be observed to ensure that there is a seamless transition in Tokyo,” Samuda said.

EVERYTHING IN ORDER

“We have had meetings with our Tottori Prefecture government officials and they, of course, are ensuring that everything is in place and that all standards and that all protocols are going to be observed,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ian Forbes, first vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, which will send the largest Jamaican contingent to the Games, said his association has no issues attending the camp, once the environment is safe for them to do so.

“We have been accustomed to camps on most of the major Games or championships over the last 20 years, and so there are significant benefits to participating in a camp,” said Forbes.

“However, of course, this environment is totally different from what we have been accustomed to, but we are confident that once things are organised with respect to protocols and it is deemed to be a safe and healthy environment, then I think that it would be beneficial to participate (in) because it is pretty much a usually big part of our preparations going in the Games or championships,” added Forbes.

The Tokyo Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8.

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com