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$33.5 million price tag for pre-Olympic camp
Published: Wednesday | August 4, 2010
Steve Hollingworth
Howard Aris (left), president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), signing off, earlier this year, on a deal for the country's athletes to use the Birmingham University as their training base for the 2012 Olympics. Looking on is Mike Whitby, leader of the Birmingham City Council.
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
It will cost Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Univer-sity approximately $33.5 million to host the Jamaican track and field team, when they arrive in the British city for a training camp ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
New accommodation facilities, a brand new running track and shiny new gym equipment are some of the plans that are being pursued by the university's administration and are expected to be well in place before the team arrives in the weeks leading up to the mega sporting event.
There are also plans to integrate the team's arrival with an anniversary celebration that is being undertaken by the council and also several proposed cultural exchanges which are geared at engaging the large Jamaican and Caribbean population in the city.
Steve Hollingworth, assistant director of sporting events at the Birmingham City Council made the disclosure during a recent telephone interview with The Gleaner from his England office.
"The City Council and the (Birmingham) University are equal partners in this camp and we have allocated 250,000 pounds (approx $33.5 million)," said Holling-worth, who also underlined that preparations are well advanced.
"In terms of preparation there is an improvement plan for the facility. Although the team was happy with what they saw already, the track is going to be resurfaced and some of the fitness facilities and accommodation are being upgraded," Hollingworth pointed out. "We are very happy with the camp and it'salready in place."
It is clear that the officials are confident that this will be money well spent, as Hollingworth went on to highlight the economic and social benefits that can be derived from having the Jamaican team in the city in the lead-up to the highly anticipated games.
"There are obvious economic benefits in terms of the profile of the city and this will also help in changing the perception of Birmingham around the world," Hollingworth said. "We want to be viewed as the city of sports and we believe that this will certainly bring many economical advantages."
"Having the Jamaican team here for 2012 and the fact that they have chosen Birmingham will reinforce our message," he added.
Caribbean community
Hollingworth went on to share that the entire Caribbean community in Birmingham is excited about the prospect of having some of track and field's biggest stars in their city and are proud that the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association decided to use it as their training base ahead of the Olympics.
"The whole city, especially the Caribbean community is very proud and excited about hosting the Jamaican team, particularly with the superstars that are expected to travel with the team," Hollingworth added.
The official also noted that his council is extending the partnership with the Jamaican officials through the establishment of a reciprocal venture that will see Birmingham school athletes competing at next year's Gibson Relays at the National Stadium with the idea being that Jamaican schools will in turn compete in England at a meet.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...s/sports1.html
Published: Wednesday | August 4, 2010
Steve Hollingworth
Howard Aris (left), president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), signing off, earlier this year, on a deal for the country's athletes to use the Birmingham University as their training base for the 2012 Olympics. Looking on is Mike Whitby, leader of the Birmingham City Council.
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
It will cost Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Univer-sity approximately $33.5 million to host the Jamaican track and field team, when they arrive in the British city for a training camp ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
New accommodation facilities, a brand new running track and shiny new gym equipment are some of the plans that are being pursued by the university's administration and are expected to be well in place before the team arrives in the weeks leading up to the mega sporting event.
There are also plans to integrate the team's arrival with an anniversary celebration that is being undertaken by the council and also several proposed cultural exchanges which are geared at engaging the large Jamaican and Caribbean population in the city.
Steve Hollingworth, assistant director of sporting events at the Birmingham City Council made the disclosure during a recent telephone interview with The Gleaner from his England office.
"The City Council and the (Birmingham) University are equal partners in this camp and we have allocated 250,000 pounds (approx $33.5 million)," said Holling-worth, who also underlined that preparations are well advanced.
"In terms of preparation there is an improvement plan for the facility. Although the team was happy with what they saw already, the track is going to be resurfaced and some of the fitness facilities and accommodation are being upgraded," Hollingworth pointed out. "We are very happy with the camp and it'salready in place."
It is clear that the officials are confident that this will be money well spent, as Hollingworth went on to highlight the economic and social benefits that can be derived from having the Jamaican team in the city in the lead-up to the highly anticipated games.
"There are obvious economic benefits in terms of the profile of the city and this will also help in changing the perception of Birmingham around the world," Hollingworth said. "We want to be viewed as the city of sports and we believe that this will certainly bring many economical advantages."
"Having the Jamaican team here for 2012 and the fact that they have chosen Birmingham will reinforce our message," he added.
Caribbean community
Hollingworth went on to share that the entire Caribbean community in Birmingham is excited about the prospect of having some of track and field's biggest stars in their city and are proud that the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association decided to use it as their training base ahead of the Olympics.
"The whole city, especially the Caribbean community is very proud and excited about hosting the Jamaican team, particularly with the superstars that are expected to travel with the team," Hollingworth added.
The official also noted that his council is extending the partnership with the Jamaican officials through the establishment of a reciprocal venture that will see Birmingham school athletes competing at next year's Gibson Relays at the National Stadium with the idea being that Jamaican schools will in turn compete in England at a meet.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...s/sports1.html