Minister Welcomes Sports Museum at GC Foster College

The G.C. Foster College Museum of Sports and Recreation is now officially open to the public.

The museum, which celebrates the life and contribution of Jamaica’s athletes, was set up to preserve, research, promote and celebrate an awareness of Jamaica’s excellent sports legacy.

Minister with Responsibility for Sports, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, who participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the school’s location in Spanish Town, St. Catherine on February 20, welcomed the establishment of the facility.

She said the Government firmly believes in the importance of showcasing the country’s successes in the field of sports, and honouring those, whose achievements, have paved the way for future stars. [Related:Jamaica Must Capitalise On Sports Tourism].

She said that the National Sports Museum, being created by the Government, has a similar mandate, which is “to celebrate our achievements and inspire a next generation, to show how far we have come and how we got there, and to instill national pride and self worth in our people generally.”

Chairperson of the Museum Events Committee, Jollette Russell, told JIS News that as the country’s premier sports college, “it is very fitting for us to have a sports museum,” which should complement the National Sports Museum when it is established.

“We think that part of our educational role as a physical education and teacher training college, is to make sure that (we) pass on that educational knowledge to our students,” she said.

The museum features several track and field memorabilia includingthe medal won by the late Gerald Claude Eugene Foster, for whom the college is named, at the 1930 Central American Games in Cuba; and the spikes worn by Danny McFarlane, who won silver in the 400-meter hurdles event at the 2004 Olympics in Greece.

The museum also features a 32-piece collection from former cricket umpire, Steve Bucknor, which was officially handed over by his daughter, Shari Bucknor, during the opening.

“Among those pieces are cricket balls, bails, bats, shirts and that famous white coat that he always wears at most of his games. He donated it to us and of course, all the pieces are signed by Steve Bucknor,” Ms. Russell informed.