MVP Grassroots training camps return

The MVP Grassroots Athletics Training Camps are back on track after a two-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the pandemic the MVP training camps took place uninterrupted on an annual basis for seven years since 2013, and MVP Track Club president, Bruce James, said it was important to resume the programme as soon as they could.

“MVP Grassroots Athletics Training Camps are crucial parts of the MVP legacy of making sure that the world-class training that we have, that has resulted in such tremendous results, is passed on to other students and other coaches throughout the island. MVP wants Jamaica to do well and wants Jamaica to excel in track and field athletics and therefore we are not going to keep the excellent world-class training methods that we have to ourselves. We want to spread it all across the island ... to make sure that as many Jamaican student athletes and coaches as possible can benefit,” James said.

Although the initiative went two years without being staged, James said the operations of the camp for this year have not been affected by the pandemic.

“That has not had any impact, we have out coaches, we have our administrative team in place, we have everything that is required to roll out this world-class training programme and we are just ready to go,” he said.

However, he noted that there are some key changes to the camps including how the initiative is being sponsored.

“The primary highlight is that Puma has come onboard with additional gear that they will be giving to every single student athlete who participates. National Commercial Bank will be coming on to share some financial strategies and financial literacy with the student athletes and the coaches. Wisynco Group, through their brands, WATA, Powerade, Tru-Juice and Tru-Shake, is going to ensure hydration for all the athletes and coaches throughout all three training camps. This is critical because this is not a theoretical training camp, this is a practical training camp where the athletes will be learning to hurdle, jump, throw, sprint and do the relays and distant running, so they need the hydration,” James said.

“Most importantly, the Sports Development Foundation has continued to demonstrate great support to events that develop sports here in Jamaica, so we’re very happy for the support of all the partners that have come onboard” he added.

In previous stagings of the event, scholarships were awarded to outstanding student athletes, but James said this might not be the case this year.

“There are no scholarships being offered at this time, but certainly if the athletes excel there’s a possibility that they could then be offered a scholarship to various places, not just at the MVP institution,” he said.

James said there will be three clinics for the camps for the specially invited coaches and athletes.

“The first of the training camps will be tomorrow at the GC Foster College, that’s for central Jamaica. Then the following weekend, on October 22, at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, which is for western Jamaica. Then on October 29 at the National Stadium for the eastern end of the island,” he said.