Athletes Urged to Maintain High Standard

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has encouraged athletes to continue to maintain a sustained and high level of performance in their respective sporting fields.
“Constantly work to hone your skills in your chosen sport and maintain high standards of physical fitness,” she urged, noting that sports served as a source of unity and upliftment for the country’s men and women.
The Minister was speaking yesterday (June 11) at the launch of nominations for the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence at Cuddy’z Restaurant and Sports Bar in New Kingston. The award seeks to recognize and honour the achievements of outstanding athletes in the country.
Ambassador Courtney Walsh, in his remarks, said that to have his name associated to such a prestigious award is indeed a pleasure and implored everyone to continue supporting such a venture.
The annual Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence is intended to capture the spirit of sportsmanship and the soaring elegance, which has been associated with Ambassador Walsh on and off the cricketing field.
The recipient of the award, which is supported by the National Council on Sports in collaboration with the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund (CHASE), will receive a cash grant of $500,000 and a specially designed trophy.
The award, which is open to all areas of sports, is designed to recognize the talents of a young sports person, who displays a high level of humility, integrity, discipline and other exemplary qualities, while excelling in the field of sports.
It is also to encourage athletes to maintain a high level of discipline and integrity, both on and off the field of sports, to strive for excellence, and remain humble even when they are excelling.
Athletes being considered for the award must be between the ages of 18 and 40 years and must have represented Jamaica at the senior level in the field of sports. They must display a high level of national pride, dedication, decorum, humility and discipline on and off the field and a high commitment to fairness and integrity.
In submitting nominations, persons should provide accurate information such as: the name of the nominee; his/her place and date of birth; the sport in which the individual is involved; a record of the athlete’s outstanding performances; a contact number; civic activities in which the nominee is involved; and the reason for the nomination.
Closing date for nominations is August 29, 2008 and nomination forms are available at the CHASE Fund office or on the website – www.chase.org.jm; the Sports Development Foundation, 31 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10; the Jamaica Cricket Association (Sabina Park), 39 South Camp Road; the Jamaica Olympic Association, 9 Cunningham Avenue; Inter secondary Schools Sports Association, (ISSA) 21 Lindsay Crescent; the Institute of Sports, Independence Park; Cuddy’z Restaurant and Sports Bar in New Kingston; and postal agencies and libraries across the island.