Team Jamaica Bickle makes financial donation to local schools
Published:Friday | July 19, 2024 | 12:09 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
THE HIGH school quartet of Jamaica College, Kingston College, Hydel, and Excelsior were presented with financial donations of US$1,200 from Team Jamaica Bickle for their outstanding performances at the 2024 Penn Relays.
Speaking at Wednesday’s ceremony, founder of Team Jamaica Bickle Irwine Clare said that while the Penn Relays is a good scholarship avenue for student athletes to showcase their skillset, there still needs to be some amount of financial backing for Jamaican schools to get them there.
“It takes cash to care. If you don’t have certain things in place to make it happen, then it’s all for naught, and that is reality. The Penn Relays still remains a good platform for schools to showcase their talents and to match their skill set with other schools and avail themselves of scholarships wherever is feasible and possible,” said Clare.
Hydel were crowned winners in the Girls’ 4x100 metres and 4x400 metres, Jamaica College topped the Boys’ 4x800, Kingston College did the same in the Boys’ 4x400, and Excelsior won the Boys’ 4x100.
According to Clare, strong showings at championships of this magnitude help to grow the country’s popularity on the world stage.
“This also does something for Brand Jamaica because in the grand scheme of things. It puts the country in better stead, to better leverage at the higher levels,” he added.
Clare explained that Team Jamaica Bickle, the non-profit corporation formed in 1994, was committed to continuing its support of Jamaican schools and envisions a long partnership with the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association.
“Team Jamaica Bickle is committed to high school sports here in Jamaica, and we will continue to do our best in the next 30 years to take it to the next level. Thanks to Keith Wellington and his team at ISSA for the continued support as we look to build going together,” he said.
According to Clare, the way fans across the world react to Jamaica’s junior and senior athletes, especially in Pennsylvania, is a sight to behold.
“You actually have a stadium that cheers for Jamaica,nd I think that is the special added value of what we bring to the table. That is an honour that we don’t take lightly.”