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Olympian Frater tells why he supports Dr Blake
Dania Bogle
Monday, November 19, 2012
ONE of Jamaica's mosst-liked athletes and Olympic gold medallist Michael Frater says plans to make provisions for the future welfare of athletes propelled his decision to support incumbent Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president Dr Warren Blake in the upcoming election.
Frater, who was a member of the Olympic Games world record 4x100m relay team and team captain in London last summer, will run on the slate of Blake for the post of second vice-president at the annual general meeting of the association at the National Arena on Thursday, November 29.
FRATER... I've not heard anything from Mr Eatmon or Grace as to what their plans for the future are
"For me and for most of the athletes we have all been pushing for a pension plan, a medical plan and an athletes' welfare committee, and for me, developing an athletes' welfare committee goes a far way in terms of actually giving back to the athletes right now," Frater told the Jamaica Observer at the launch of Blake's manifesto at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Saturday.
"For me and for most of the athletes we have all been pushing for a pension plan, a medical plan and an athletes' welfare committee, and for me, developing an athletes' welfare committee goes a far way in terms of actually giving back to the athletes right now," Frater told the Jamaica Observer at the launch of Blake's manifesto at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Saturday.
"Most of the athletes nowadays, 97 per cent of the athletes, do not have professional contracts, so in terms of medical and so forth we don't really have the help. If a major injury is supposed to develop (say they have to have a surgery or something like that) it is very expensive and that has led to the disappearance of many athletes who have had significant injuries over the years, so for him to take the initiative to develop a programme like that, then I'm all for it," Frater explained.
In recent times, many of the elite athletes, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who made her appeal upon returning from the 2012 Olympic Games in London have called for programmes to be put in place to assist athletes now, those who are in need, as well as upcoming athletes who have very little in the way of funding.
Frater said he had not been approached by either of the other two candidates — Lincoln Eatmon or Grace Jackson — to support their bids for the top post.
"I've not heard anything from Mr Eatmon or Grace as to what their plans for the future are. I've been trying to find out but I've not heard anything about what anyone has said about going forward."
However, he believes that what Blake brings to the table is worth voting for.
"Any athlete who listens to what he has put out would undoubtedly choose to support him, but this is a democratic society and everyone is free to choose what they want," Frater declared.
The sprinter's support of Blake runs counter to claims made my hurdler Maurice Wignall that Jackson enjoys the overwhelming support of athletes.
"There are current athletes who believe in what Grace will do for them and the organisation and the consensus is that they really need a sort of change. They believe that Grace represents what they have been asking for and have needed for many years," said Wignall, who has launched a vigorous online campaign for Jackson.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2CgO8OEHt
Dania Bogle
Monday, November 19, 2012
ONE of Jamaica's mosst-liked athletes and Olympic gold medallist Michael Frater says plans to make provisions for the future welfare of athletes propelled his decision to support incumbent Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president Dr Warren Blake in the upcoming election.
Frater, who was a member of the Olympic Games world record 4x100m relay team and team captain in London last summer, will run on the slate of Blake for the post of second vice-president at the annual general meeting of the association at the National Arena on Thursday, November 29.
FRATER... I've not heard anything from Mr Eatmon or Grace as to what their plans for the future are
"For me and for most of the athletes we have all been pushing for a pension plan, a medical plan and an athletes' welfare committee, and for me, developing an athletes' welfare committee goes a far way in terms of actually giving back to the athletes right now," Frater told the Jamaica Observer at the launch of Blake's manifesto at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Saturday.
"For me and for most of the athletes we have all been pushing for a pension plan, a medical plan and an athletes' welfare committee, and for me, developing an athletes' welfare committee goes a far way in terms of actually giving back to the athletes right now," Frater told the Jamaica Observer at the launch of Blake's manifesto at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Saturday.
"Most of the athletes nowadays, 97 per cent of the athletes, do not have professional contracts, so in terms of medical and so forth we don't really have the help. If a major injury is supposed to develop (say they have to have a surgery or something like that) it is very expensive and that has led to the disappearance of many athletes who have had significant injuries over the years, so for him to take the initiative to develop a programme like that, then I'm all for it," Frater explained.
In recent times, many of the elite athletes, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who made her appeal upon returning from the 2012 Olympic Games in London have called for programmes to be put in place to assist athletes now, those who are in need, as well as upcoming athletes who have very little in the way of funding.
Frater said he had not been approached by either of the other two candidates — Lincoln Eatmon or Grace Jackson — to support their bids for the top post.
"I've not heard anything from Mr Eatmon or Grace as to what their plans for the future are. I've been trying to find out but I've not heard anything about what anyone has said about going forward."
However, he believes that what Blake brings to the table is worth voting for.
"Any athlete who listens to what he has put out would undoubtedly choose to support him, but this is a democratic society and everyone is free to choose what they want," Frater declared.
The sprinter's support of Blake runs counter to claims made my hurdler Maurice Wignall that Jackson enjoys the overwhelming support of athletes.
"There are current athletes who believe in what Grace will do for them and the organisation and the consensus is that they really need a sort of change. They believe that Grace represents what they have been asking for and have needed for many years," said Wignall, who has launched a vigorous online campaign for Jackson.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2CgO8OEHt