Jamaicans to Benefit from Exchange of Cuban Coaches

The Institute of Sports (INSPORT) has signed a partnership with their Cuban counterparts, for the exchange of coaches to teach various sporting disciplines in the two countries.
Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, Portia Simpson-Miller, made the announcement in her contribution to the 2005/2006 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives recently.
She informed that Cuba would assist Jamaica in the disciplines of boxing, volleyball, basketball, swimming and hockey, while Jamaica would assist Cuba in the areas of cricket and athletics.
The Sport Minister informed that the agreement came at the request of the coaches of the respective sports associations of both countries. “We are happy that INSPORT was able to sign an agreement with the Cuban Sports Institute to make this a reality” she noted.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Simpson Miller announced that INSPORT would be repositioned to provide support to and sustain the high standards attained by Jamaican sportsmen and women in various sporting arenas.
She noted further, that the Institute intended to actively pursue the establishment of partnerships with the private sector organizations to facilitate the implementation of its programmes. “A number of private sector firms have pledged their support for the Institute’s programmes and for this we are thankful,” Minister Simpson-Miller informed.
Turning to World Cup Cricket 2007, the Sport Minister called on Jamaicans to be prepared to take advantage of the lucrative benefits that the staging of the international event would bring. “The World Cup presents an opportunity to mobilize the nation to take advantage of the significant inflow of tourists expected from this mega event,” she noted.
On another matter, Mrs. Simpson Miller informed that the government had approved the Ministry entering into a partnership agreement with Special Olympics International, to finance the Ministry’s MEDFEST programmes.
MEDFEST is a programme of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) in association with Special Olympics Jamaica, in which volunteer clinical services are provided to special athletes.
The Sport Minister paid tribute to the outstanding performances of Jamaica’s track and field team at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece and hailed the performances of the country’s sportsmen and women in other sporting disciplines such as cricket, netball, volleyball, football, gymnastics and tae kwando.