Minister Neita Headly Commends Private Sector Contribution To Sports

Minister with responsibility for Sports, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, is commending private sector contribution to the development of sports in Jamaica.

She noted that the private sector support not only includes sponsorship of global stars, but programmes that are geared towards developing young athletes.

Mrs. Neita Headley was speaking at the launch of the Digicel Grand Prix Athletic Championship on January 20 at the Terra Nova Hotel, St. Andrew.

The six-meet series, from February 6-20, will see secondary school students across the island competing in seven track and field events.

Minister Neita Headley said the Government strongly supports the staging of these development meets. She noted that the events have been game changers in unearthing new talent, and helping to ensure that the country’s athletes continue to be world beaters.

The Minister said the Government is committed to the long-term well being of all athletes through the Jamaica Athletes Insurance Plan, which will also provide coverage for junior athletes, who represent the country.

The Minister also expressed gratitude to the local universities that have provided approximately $130 million per year in scholarship to student athletes, which have enabled them to pursue tertiary studies in Jamaica.

Digicel is providing $16 million in sponsorship for the grand prix, which is in its second year. The series gets underway on February 6 with the Western Championships at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Montego Bay, and the Youngster Goldsmith National Classic at the National Stadium in Kingston.

The other meets in the series are the Corporate Area Development Meet on February 11 and the Camperdown Classic on February 13, both at the National Stadium; the Central Championships on February 16 and the G.C. Foster Classics on February 20, both at the G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town.

The events to be contested over the course of the series will be the 100 metres, 200m, 400m, 800m, long jump, high jump, discus, and 4x400m.