Govt Committed To Supporting Athletes

Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, said the Government is committed to supporting the country’s athletes.

“We want to provide first world opportunities for our first class athletes. They deserve nothing less,” she said, while hailing the outstanding performances at the recent World Championships in Beijing, China.

Mrs. Neita Headley was speaking at the press launch of the 11^th annual Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence held on September 3 at Cuddy’z Sports Bar and Restaurant in New Kingston.

The award, administered by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, seeks to recognise sportspersons, who demonstrate positive attitudes and have made outstanding achievements in their fields.

The Minister, in hailing the award programme, said “it is very important that we give our athletes support, not just when they are doing well… on the field but also for doing well off the field; for possessing integrity and honesty, which allows them to remain dope-free and which demonstrates that they have a strong sense of fair play.”

Chairman of the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence Selection Committee, Brian George, said members of the public are invited to nominate sportspersons, who demonstrate the characteristics that embody the spirit of the award.

“Look for the people who genuinely represent the deeper character of what the Courtney Walsh Award really means because I think, sometimes, we are seduced into thinking of it as a popularity award.

“It is an award that really reflects the characteristics of sportsmanship, determination, the balance between athletics and athleticism all of the things which we think are important for a strong sports award,” he stated.

Nominees must be a Jamaican national, must have represented Jamaica at a senior level in a sport recognised by the Jamaica Institute of Sports and the Jamaica Olympic Association and must have consistently displayed outstanding ability in sports and national pride and dedication in all areas of life.

Nomination forms are available on the CHASE website at www.chase.org.jm, and may be downloaded and submitted via email: chase12@cwjamaica.com or dropped off at the CHASE Kingston office located at 50 – 60 Grenada Crescent, Kingston 5. Nominations close on September 18.

The award ceremony will be held on October 15.