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UWI formalises ties with Racers, HPC
BY PAUL BURROWES Observer writer
Thursday, November 12, 2009
IN a bid to become a 'one-stop shop' for sports and a Centre of Excellence for the best athletes in the region, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, formalised ties with the Racers Track Club and the IAAF High Performance Centre (HPC) during a launch of its Athletics Initiative and Seminar Series at the Visitor's Lodge and Conference Centre yesterday.
Principal of UWI, Mona, Professor Gordon Shirley, put pen to paper with IAAF Area Representative Neville McCook and Racers Track Club president Glen Mills in the presence of Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt, who has been training at Mona for the past six years.
Professor Gordon Shirley (right), principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona Camps, shakes hands with Jamaican athletic superstar and member of the Racers Track Club, Usain Bolt, at the Visitor's Lodge and Conference Centre a Mona yesterday. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
Deputy Principal Joseph Pereira, the public face of the campus, described the agreement as "basic", allowing members of the HPC and Racers use of the modernised and spacious facilities at the campus.
In turn, though not yet finalised, Mona will take advantage of the star power of Racers and the up-and-coming athletes of HPC.
Professor Shirley said Mona would commit "to providing accommodation for up to 15 international athletes annually for the High Performance Centre, office space as well as access to the training facilities at the Mona Bowl".
He noted that Racers Track Club "has decided to make UWI, Mona, its home base and has been given access to the facilities at the UWI Bowl where the incomparable Usain Bolt has trained for the past six years".
"Discussions are advanced in finalising installation of an eight-lane, 400m track at the facility, which Regupol of Germany donated to Bolt. The campus will be investing in the necessary infrastructure required for laying the track.
"With both Racers Track Club and the High Performance Centre based here, the Mona Campus will have top-flight athletes from Racers and the upcoming athletes from the High Performance Centre and their coaches enhancing the track exposure of UWI athletes and providing subjects for further research into track performance," said the professor.
Meanwhile McCook, a former president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), said UWI would provide High Performance Centre athletes the space to train and finally take on female athletes.
Mills meanwhile described the occasion as "momentous" and "watershed", with facilities on the synthetic track making it possible for Racers athletes to "train longer and work harder".
He said Racers had the "best interest of Jamaica at heart" as the club expands and intensifies efforts to produce world-class athletes.
He said "huge announcements" from the club will be made soon.
Meanwhile, Olympian Grace Jackson has been reassigned from Director of Sports, Student Services, to Sports Development Officer in the Office of the Principal.
Jackson, a 200m silver medallist at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, has secured sponsorships of US$70,000 from sport goods manufacturers Puma for laying the track; $1 million in cash and products from Gatorade, and $500,000 plus products from Western Union and Grace Foods, subsidiaries of GraceKennedy Ltd.
Ayama Kirton, Gatorade's brand manager, and Nicholas Bramwell, senior brand manager for Grace Foods, spoke on behalf of their companies.
Lecturer in sports medicine and consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Askshai Mansingh, summarised the role of sports science at UWI, with Mona boasting doctors at the top of the field in injury assessment and management.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...CERS__HPC_.asp
BY PAUL BURROWES Observer writer
Thursday, November 12, 2009
IN a bid to become a 'one-stop shop' for sports and a Centre of Excellence for the best athletes in the region, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, formalised ties with the Racers Track Club and the IAAF High Performance Centre (HPC) during a launch of its Athletics Initiative and Seminar Series at the Visitor's Lodge and Conference Centre yesterday.
Principal of UWI, Mona, Professor Gordon Shirley, put pen to paper with IAAF Area Representative Neville McCook and Racers Track Club president Glen Mills in the presence of Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt, who has been training at Mona for the past six years.
Professor Gordon Shirley (right), principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona Camps, shakes hands with Jamaican athletic superstar and member of the Racers Track Club, Usain Bolt, at the Visitor's Lodge and Conference Centre a Mona yesterday. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
Deputy Principal Joseph Pereira, the public face of the campus, described the agreement as "basic", allowing members of the HPC and Racers use of the modernised and spacious facilities at the campus.
In turn, though not yet finalised, Mona will take advantage of the star power of Racers and the up-and-coming athletes of HPC.
Professor Shirley said Mona would commit "to providing accommodation for up to 15 international athletes annually for the High Performance Centre, office space as well as access to the training facilities at the Mona Bowl".
He noted that Racers Track Club "has decided to make UWI, Mona, its home base and has been given access to the facilities at the UWI Bowl where the incomparable Usain Bolt has trained for the past six years".
"Discussions are advanced in finalising installation of an eight-lane, 400m track at the facility, which Regupol of Germany donated to Bolt. The campus will be investing in the necessary infrastructure required for laying the track.
"With both Racers Track Club and the High Performance Centre based here, the Mona Campus will have top-flight athletes from Racers and the upcoming athletes from the High Performance Centre and their coaches enhancing the track exposure of UWI athletes and providing subjects for further research into track performance," said the professor.
Meanwhile McCook, a former president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), said UWI would provide High Performance Centre athletes the space to train and finally take on female athletes.
Mills meanwhile described the occasion as "momentous" and "watershed", with facilities on the synthetic track making it possible for Racers athletes to "train longer and work harder".
He said Racers had the "best interest of Jamaica at heart" as the club expands and intensifies efforts to produce world-class athletes.
He said "huge announcements" from the club will be made soon.
Meanwhile, Olympian Grace Jackson has been reassigned from Director of Sports, Student Services, to Sports Development Officer in the Office of the Principal.
Jackson, a 200m silver medallist at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, has secured sponsorships of US$70,000 from sport goods manufacturers Puma for laying the track; $1 million in cash and products from Gatorade, and $500,000 plus products from Western Union and Grace Foods, subsidiaries of GraceKennedy Ltd.
Ayama Kirton, Gatorade's brand manager, and Nicholas Bramwell, senior brand manager for Grace Foods, spoke on behalf of their companies.
Lecturer in sports medicine and consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Askshai Mansingh, summarised the role of sports science at UWI, with Mona boasting doctors at the top of the field in injury assessment and management.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...CERS__HPC_.asp
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