Tweet
Rev Al Miller is new INSPORTS chairman
DANIA BOGLE , Observer staff reporter
bogled@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Miller. sports is a tool for development of character
THE Reverend Al Miller, pastor of the Half-Way-Tree Road-based Fellowship Tabernacle, has been appointed chairman of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) to serve as head of that body for the next three years.
Minister of Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange told the Observer yesterday that Miller's appointment takes immediate effect, following approval by Cabinet two weeks ago.
"He has served on that board in the past, he is involved in sports and is someone with a passion and an excellent role model," Grange said.
Miller, speaking to the Observer from his Half-Way-Tree Road base yesterday, said he felt the appointment would be a good one to help take the country in a different direction.
"Sports is a unifying force... I think it is an opportunity to help the development of sport in the nation and to see it moving into new dimensions because sports is one of the most powerful tools for social development and international development, particularly with the problems our nation is having through crime, violence and what is happening with our youth," he said.
Meanwhile, Grange told the Observer that the Reverend's appointment was part of the new government's thrust towards developing community sport.
"The thrust of the government is in developing community sports and reaching out far and wide and we felt he was someone who could carry out that thrust," she said adding that Miller, who has been in full-time ministry for over 25 years, has also been made a member of the board of the Social Development Commission.
"Sports and Community development... they walk together," Miller concurred.
"We don't want to see sports primarily as an activity for passing time but rather as a tool for development of character for inculcating values and discipline and a sense of purpose and self-esteem in our youth."
The 55-year-old, who previously served on the board of Insports during the 1980's, takes over the post from medical doctor Winston Dawes who stood at the helm of Insports since 2005 until the board was dissolved shortly after the country changed government in September.
Former Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president, North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) president and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Area Representative, Neville 'Teddy' McCook, was appointed vice-chairman. Ian Andrews remains executive director.
Meanwhile Miller, who served as chaplain for the national Senior football team for five years, also told the Observer he has once again been commissioned by Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell to be part of the national football programme and possibly help to bring back the euphoria associated with the 1998 Road to France FIFA World Cup football campaign.
"I was asked to come back at this time because I think his (Burrell) own vision and desire is to help re-motivate and re-mobilise the nation behind the football programme," he said.
"Look what sports did for the nation in 1998 at a crisis point socially, and look at what it did to revive a nation and I think from a soccer standpoint this is what Captain would like to see rekindled," he added.
Miller, who is also an executive member of the International Sports Coalition Board, pointed out that Whole Life Ministries, of which he is the founder, also runs community-based church football, basketball, netball and cricket leagues.
"I see it (sports) as part of the answer to our national social decline," Miller said.
DANIA BOGLE , Observer staff reporter
bogled@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Miller. sports is a tool for development of character THE Reverend Al Miller, pastor of the Half-Way-Tree Road-based Fellowship Tabernacle, has been appointed chairman of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) to serve as head of that body for the next three years.
Minister of Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange told the Observer yesterday that Miller's appointment takes immediate effect, following approval by Cabinet two weeks ago.
"He has served on that board in the past, he is involved in sports and is someone with a passion and an excellent role model," Grange said.
Miller, speaking to the Observer from his Half-Way-Tree Road base yesterday, said he felt the appointment would be a good one to help take the country in a different direction.
"Sports is a unifying force... I think it is an opportunity to help the development of sport in the nation and to see it moving into new dimensions because sports is one of the most powerful tools for social development and international development, particularly with the problems our nation is having through crime, violence and what is happening with our youth," he said.
Meanwhile, Grange told the Observer that the Reverend's appointment was part of the new government's thrust towards developing community sport.
"The thrust of the government is in developing community sports and reaching out far and wide and we felt he was someone who could carry out that thrust," she said adding that Miller, who has been in full-time ministry for over 25 years, has also been made a member of the board of the Social Development Commission.
"Sports and Community development... they walk together," Miller concurred.
"We don't want to see sports primarily as an activity for passing time but rather as a tool for development of character for inculcating values and discipline and a sense of purpose and self-esteem in our youth."
The 55-year-old, who previously served on the board of Insports during the 1980's, takes over the post from medical doctor Winston Dawes who stood at the helm of Insports since 2005 until the board was dissolved shortly after the country changed government in September.
Former Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president, North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) president and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Area Representative, Neville 'Teddy' McCook, was appointed vice-chairman. Ian Andrews remains executive director.
Meanwhile Miller, who served as chaplain for the national Senior football team for five years, also told the Observer he has once again been commissioned by Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell to be part of the national football programme and possibly help to bring back the euphoria associated with the 1998 Road to France FIFA World Cup football campaign.
"I was asked to come back at this time because I think his (Burrell) own vision and desire is to help re-motivate and re-mobilise the nation behind the football programme," he said.
"Look what sports did for the nation in 1998 at a crisis point socially, and look at what it did to revive a nation and I think from a soccer standpoint this is what Captain would like to see rekindled," he added.
Miller, who is also an executive member of the International Sports Coalition Board, pointed out that Whole Life Ministries, of which he is the founder, also runs community-based church football, basketball, netball and cricket leagues.
"I see it (sports) as part of the answer to our national social decline," Miller said.
What protocol dictates is that if you sing/play one verse of the visitor's anthem, then you should do the same for yours.
Comment