Visa issues a hindrance – Wilson
Published:Tuesday | July 19, 2022 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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EUGENE, Oregon: Like many other countries at these World Athletics Championships, Jamaica has had problems with visa issues which have hindered preparations. For Team Jamaica’s Technical Leader Maurice Wilson there has to be a greater cooperation...
EUGENE, Oregon:
Like many other countries at these World Athletics Championships, Jamaica has had problems with visa issues which have hindered preparations.
For Team Jamaica’s Technical Leader Maurice Wilson there has to be a greater cooperation to facilitate getting travel documents promptly for athletes to compete in global competitions.
Quarter-miler Gregory Prince arrived last week Thursday, the day before the championships began after beating the clock to secure his visa but was unable to take part in the mixed 4x400m relays. Discus thrower Chad Wright, who had visa problems of his own, got approved on Thursday and arrived in camp on Saturday, the day before the men’s discus qualifying round. Wright competed but did not advance to the final.
Wilson said that provisions have to be made for athletes to avoid such setbacks.
“There must be some acknowledgement on the part of countries who give persons the opportunity to come into their country that these persons are coming here to compete in sports. You may have others who have ulterior motives but you cannot use one situation to blanket all,” Wilson told The Gleaner. “The Gregory Prince situation affected us. He is a talented young man and we felt that if we had him here early in the camp, he could have helped us in our efforts moving forward. I think it is something that must be addressed by the powers that be, government to government and for sports, for culture, there has to be provisions in place to help athletes in travelling.”
CRITICISM REGARDING VISA ISSUES
Organisers of the World Athletics Championships have come under criticism regarding the visa issues, with reportedly 100 athletes, coaches and officials being prevented from entering the event. Olympic and world champion Michael Johnson expressed his frustration at the situation after Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala got his visa approved late and arrived just in time to compete in Friday’s 100m heats.
“This would never happen in a truly professional sport,” Johnson said.
Despite support from the sports ministry, Wilson says that better foresight and planning especially for young athletes will help them avoid complications.
“There has to be a way in which, for example, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association is going to have to some form of a collaborative effort between government agencies within the country and externally to see how we can facilitate these arrangements at an earlier date,” Wilson said. “So if it is that the youngsters are turned down, they are given opportunities to appeal similarly to what happened with our discus thrower.”
Sports Minister Olivia Grange acknowledged the challenges and said in Eugene last weekend that they are hoping for a smoother process in the future.
“It is usually very difficult because the applications and the efforts made to get the appointments have been very challenging. Of course, the United States Embassy has its issues about how much work they have to do when our applications go in late or it goes in at a time that we need to get back by a certain time to travel,” Grange said. “We all have our challenges and as a result sometimes things may not be as timely as they should. But we do get good support and cooperation where necessary and where possible.”