PM Wants Swift Action on Wellness Centre for Athletes

Prime Minister and Minister of Sport, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has urged the National Council on Sport, the advisory body to the Government on matters related to sport, to examine the establishment of the state-of-the-art Wellness Centre which will incorporate medical, diagnostic, therapeutic and general wellness services for all national athletes.

The Prime Minister met with the Sport Council at Jamaica House recently and noted that: “The project is long overdue and I urge the Committee that has been established to begin to have discussions and make recommendations as we move towards its development.”

An Athletes’ Insurance and Retirement Benefits Plan proposal was received by the Sport Council which Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley said will guide the process to arrive at the best coverage for a national plan for our athletes.

The proposal will be reviewed by the Athletes’ Development and Well-Being committee to be chaired by President of the Jamaica Paralympic Association, Christopher Samuda.

This Committee is charged with formulating recommendations for consideration by the Council in respect of the implementation of the Government’s commitment as stated in the National Sport Policy for the development, promotion and provision of programmes geared toward healthy lifestyle practices, proper nutrition and in accordance with international standards regarding food safety and the general well-being of the Jamaican athletes.

Four other Committees were established to address critical priority areas in: Sport Financing and Economic Development; Capacity Building and Infrastructure; Standards, Regulations and Anti-doping; and Public Relations and Communications.

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Email: opm.news@opm.gov.jm

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