Athletes to be Feted in their Communities

Minister with responsibility for Sports, Hon. Natalie Neita-Headley, says plans to fete the athletes who represented Jamaica at the 2012 Olympics in London will involve the staging of a national event, as well as smaller events in several of the athletes' home communities.

Mrs. Neita-Headley made the disclosure to JIS News at the launch of the opening of nominations for the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence, at Cuddy'z Sports Bar in New Kingston, recently.

"The celebrations will go from a national event to individual events within their communities, a kind of coming home activity, because that’s where it starts and where it begins. We're not looking at any motorcade, we're looking at how we provide incentives and benefits to those who have given so much to their country," she said.

Mrs. Neita-Headley noted that the events are currently being planned and could take place on National Heroes' Day (October 15), depending on the availability of the majority of the athletes.

Many of them are not expected back in the island until later this year, due to overseas sporting commitments.

Jamaica's haul at the 30th Olympiad were 12 medals – four gold, four silver and four bronze. 

The Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence, which is administered by the Culture, Health, Arts,  Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, seeks to formally recognise the achievements of a sports person who displays exemplary qualities while excelling in the field of sports.

Nomination forms are available at the Jamaica Cricket Association, Sports Development Foundation, Jamaica Olympic Association, Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA), the Institute of Sports or on the CHASE website: www.chase.org.jm.

 All forms must be submitted to the CHASE office at 52-60 Grenada Crescent, Kingston 5, or e-mailed to the CHASE office – chase12@cwjamaica.com. Nominations close on September 29.