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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>UWI launches Sport Enhancement Project</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>By Paul Burrowes Observer writer
Sunday, February 04, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, has launched its Sport Enhancement Project in a bid to develop a new thrust in sport.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Terms of reference for the project include redoubling interest in Mona Campus from both student-athletes and supporters, promoting and awarding sport scholarships and grants, and assisting in the development of new athletic facilities.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Olympian Grace Jackson-Small, student services manager for sports, was beaming Thursday evening at the launch of the project at the Undercroft, Senate Building at Mona.
"This is just another part of the journey that we have for sport on the Mona Campus. where we get an opportunity to serve the students more," Jackson-Small said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The 1988 Olympic 200m silver medallist said she came to the university eight years ago and though she was a sprinter, she felt like "a long-distance runner".
"I always believed," she said that the UWI would "give more attention to sports".<P class=StoryText align=justify>The project will oversee the rehabilitation and development of the current athletic facilities, review and update the design for the sporting facilities outlined in the Campus Master Plan, and create and maintain a website for sport at the campus.
"It has always been a challenge for us over the years to mobilise students to give their support for what we do in the Sports Unit," Jackson-Small explained.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I came to this university believing that here is an oasis; here is a campus that has just the right ingredients for being the best in terms of sports facility and delivery to the ordinary sports person."
Jackson-Small said that on Feb 11 there would be a biathlon (cycling and running/walking) in collaboration with the University of Technology, and on the 17th the campus would stage the annual UWI Invitational Track Meet.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The UWI Games, traditionally called the Inter-Campus Games, will be held on May 17-24 and would be like a mini world university games, she said.
Meanwhile, Richard Toomer, co-ordinator and leading light of the sport enhancement project, told the Sunday Observer since the project began, "we have renovated the multi-purpose court in Taylor Hall, which provides volleyball, basketball and netball for our students on Taylor, Chancellor and Irvine Halls.
"We have built a new court at the Mona Bowl, basically offering the same sports, but this helps to take off some of the pressure off the indoor facility.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"In the coming weeks we will renovate the swimming pool, which is an Olympic-standard size pool. We're going to improve our football fields to international standards, with stands and substitute areas, etc, within the next three months," he said.
The sport enhancement project is located at the Office of the Deputy Principal and works in collaboration with the university's Sports Unit, which is at the Office of Student Services.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris, principal and pro vice-Chancellor, Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie, and deputy principal Joseph Pereira, also spoke at the launch.
The venture is in keeping with the strategic plan of the UWI where students will be leaders not only in academia, but in out-of-classroom learning.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Sporting facilities outlined in the Campus Master Plan includes a proposed new athletic facility at the Mona Bowl which will boast sports medicine facility and offices; VIP parking; multi-purpose athletic and ceremonial hall; basketball, netball, volleyball, and tennis courts; cricket oval
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>By Paul Burrowes Observer writer
Sunday, February 04, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, has launched its Sport Enhancement Project in a bid to develop a new thrust in sport.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Terms of reference for the project include redoubling interest in Mona Campus from both student-athletes and supporters, promoting and awarding sport scholarships and grants, and assisting in the development of new athletic facilities.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Olympian Grace Jackson-Small, student services manager for sports, was beaming Thursday evening at the launch of the project at the Undercroft, Senate Building at Mona.
"This is just another part of the journey that we have for sport on the Mona Campus. where we get an opportunity to serve the students more," Jackson-Small said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The 1988 Olympic 200m silver medallist said she came to the university eight years ago and though she was a sprinter, she felt like "a long-distance runner".
"I always believed," she said that the UWI would "give more attention to sports".<P class=StoryText align=justify>The project will oversee the rehabilitation and development of the current athletic facilities, review and update the design for the sporting facilities outlined in the Campus Master Plan, and create and maintain a website for sport at the campus.
"It has always been a challenge for us over the years to mobilise students to give their support for what we do in the Sports Unit," Jackson-Small explained.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I came to this university believing that here is an oasis; here is a campus that has just the right ingredients for being the best in terms of sports facility and delivery to the ordinary sports person."
Jackson-Small said that on Feb 11 there would be a biathlon (cycling and running/walking) in collaboration with the University of Technology, and on the 17th the campus would stage the annual UWI Invitational Track Meet.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The UWI Games, traditionally called the Inter-Campus Games, will be held on May 17-24 and would be like a mini world university games, she said.
Meanwhile, Richard Toomer, co-ordinator and leading light of the sport enhancement project, told the Sunday Observer since the project began, "we have renovated the multi-purpose court in Taylor Hall, which provides volleyball, basketball and netball for our students on Taylor, Chancellor and Irvine Halls.
"We have built a new court at the Mona Bowl, basically offering the same sports, but this helps to take off some of the pressure off the indoor facility.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"In the coming weeks we will renovate the swimming pool, which is an Olympic-standard size pool. We're going to improve our football fields to international standards, with stands and substitute areas, etc, within the next three months," he said.
The sport enhancement project is located at the Office of the Deputy Principal and works in collaboration with the university's Sports Unit, which is at the Office of Student Services.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris, principal and pro vice-Chancellor, Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie, and deputy principal Joseph Pereira, also spoke at the launch.
The venture is in keeping with the strategic plan of the UWI where students will be leaders not only in academia, but in out-of-classroom learning.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Sporting facilities outlined in the Campus Master Plan includes a proposed new athletic facility at the Mona Bowl which will boast sports medicine facility and offices; VIP parking; multi-purpose athletic and ceremonial hall; basketball, netball, volleyball, and tennis courts; cricket oval