No control at all

THE JAMAICA Olympic Association (JOA) is saying it is not responsible for the size of the delegation that the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association takes to the Olympics.

The JOA is responding to a complaint from veteran coach Glen Mills that the number of persons down to manage the more than 60 athletes down to compete under the JAAA banner is wholly inadequate.

“It is a disgrace that you have to be fighting to get the required number of coaches, the required number of therapists and doctors to go with an Olympic team that is probably rated number two or three in the world,” Mills said during a JAAA’s press conference recently.

However, the JOA has hit back to say, on one hand, the JAAA was aware of how the size of a delegation is calculated, and that that calculation is done at the International Olympic Committee level.

“The JOA does not control at all the team size calculator for games,” read a release from the JOA.

According to the JOA, Garth Gayle, president of the JAAA, would know the specifics of the calculator.

“For clarity, in his role as chairman of JOA’s Games Commission, he had full knowledge of team size calculators (which host cities of games use to determine the sizes of country delegations), including that contained in the Olympic mandate regarding Olympic games,” read the release.

“In meetings with several associations and federations, Mr Gayle emphasised this and explained JOA policies as they relate to games management,” the JOA statement said.

Interestingly, Mills is not part of the delegation to the Olympic Games.

The list comprises Ludlow Watts (manager), Ian Forbes (assistant manager), Julette Parkes-Livermore (assistant manager), Maurice Wilson (head coach), Lennox Graham (coach), Paul Francis (coach), Mark Elliott (coach), Julian Robinson (coach), Reynaldo Wallcott (coach), Marlon Gayle (coach), Lacena Golding-Clarke (coach), Warren Blake (doctor), Pier-Ann Brown (physiotherapist), Troy Evans (massage therapist), Everette Rowe (massage therapist), Damion Rowe (massage therapist), and Okeile Stewart (massage therapist).

That list accounts for 17 members and according to the JOA, the increase comes about because of its efforts to facilitate personal coaches.

“The JOA must again point out that the JAAA further made a specific request of the JOA for seven personal coaches, in addition to the fourteen primary team officials, and this was granted by the JOA without any reservation whatsoever,” read the statement, before asking for an apology.

It is unclear who the apology is being requested from.

“Essential to consensus and trust are transparent conduct and a readiness to admit when one falls into error. The JOA, therefore, awaits courtesy.”