The Jamaica Olympic Association on Saturday issued a statement clarifying comments made by Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association treasurer Ludlow Watts regarding the payment for air travel for the Jamaican Track & Field delegation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games scheduled for July 28-August 8 in Birmingham.
“The Jamaica Olympic Association, given a report by Kayon Raynor regarding the travel arrangements in relation to the Commonwealth Games, is obliged to respond to state the facts and rehearse the same for the benefit of Mr. Ludlow Watts, JAAA's Treasurer, who is alleged to have made unfortunate comments concerning the matter,” the statement started.
It continued: "From time immemorial travel grants in relation to athletes and officials have been instituted by owners of regional and international games and this has not changed and all parties are aware of this fact.
Last year in relation to the Tokyo Olympic Games, travel agencies were identified with which member associations were advised to interface in making travel arrangements for their athletes and officials. The JAAA compiled and consulted a travel agency and made appropriate arrangements on behalf of their athletes and officials with the agency which is the said agency that is handling arrangements for the JAAA for the Commonwealth Games.
Mr. Watts, a seasoned manager, understands that the travel grant is a fixed sum and as obtained in relation to the Tokyo Olympics, is aware that travel arrangements should be made efficiently by his association to avoid increased costs.
In the report by Kayon Raynor, Mr. Watts fails to mention that the JAAA adhered to the policy with respect to the Tokyo Games and gives the impression that the JOA has the responsibility of dealing directly with member athletes of his governing body whose itineraries and attendant obligations are more known to the JAAA.
Based on the previous course of dealing respecting the Tokyo Olympic Games to which the JAAA adhered, the impression given is misconceived. What clearly is of concern to Mr. Watts, as keeper of the JAAA's treasury, is the risk of increased travel costs consequent upon the delay committed by his association in failing to provide a definitive list of athletes and officials with settled itineraries coupled with its continual reworking of lists of athletes and officials in a vain attempt to comply with the regulations of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
It is from this self-imposed risk that Mr. Watts is attempting to flee in "championship" style.
Furthermore, the JOA is alarmed that in the report of Kayon Raynor, Mr. Watts states that there is an overage of US$1,240.00 per person versus the individual travel grant when the JOA, to date, is still not in receipt from the JAAA of the itinerary costs of the track and field delegation.
All other member associations which have sports participating in the Commonwealth Games, in keeping with the established course of dealing, interfaced with their respective travel agencies, made appropriate bookings cost-effectively and are either comfortable in Birmingham or en route seamlessly.
Had Mr. Watts, as Chancellor of the Exchequer of the JAAA, complied with the CGF's regulations and refrained from providing lists that changed continually and are still changing to date he would not have found himself and place his association in this quandary.
Despite Mr Watts' failure to manage the process, the JOA, in the interest of Jamaica's athletes, will work with the travel agency with a view to having them attend the Games. Also, the JOA reminds Mr. Watts that it has never resiled from its obligation regarding travel costs and therefore his misstatement that the JOA is refusing to pay is ill-conceived. What he must consider is that the business of sport requires economic decisions to ensure viability."
Seasoned journalist Ian Burnett selected for sports journalism summit in the Dominican Republic
Respected sports journalist Ian Burnett is set to join fellow journalists from across the Americas and the Caribbean later this month for a high-level Sports Journalism Summit in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Organized by Centro Caribe Sports (CCS), the summit will provide comprehensive training in both theoretical and practical aspects of high-quality sports journalism.
Burnett was selected by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) to participate in the program, an opportunity he regards as a significant milestone in his career. "I am deeply honored to be selected by the Jamaica Olympic Association to participate in this prestigious training programme," Burnett said. "I have had the privilege of covering numerous global sporting events. Yet, the opportunity to engage in this focused programme on journalism and sports reporting presents a new horizon for professional growth. The evolving landscape of sports journalism, coupled with the increasing demand for insightful and comprehensive coverage, requires constant refinement of our skills and approaches."
CCS, which owns and hosts the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, is driving this initiative as part of its educational agenda aimed at delivering tailored programs for sports professionals. The summit is intended to build capacity within the sports journalism community, providing journalists with the tools to deliver not just the statistics and outcomes of sporting events but also to convey the values and contexts that shape the sporting narrative.
CCS Second Vice-President, Christopher Samuda, emphasized the importance of the journalist's role in the broader sports ecosystem. “CCS will be hosting fora for sport professionals across the spectrum designed to build capacity," Samuda said. "The journalist telegraphs to an audience larger than that in his national village not only the statistics and rationale of victory, best performances, and defeat but, more importantly, values that inform thought, are defining of judgement, that contextualize past and present experiences and events in sport, and portray a future that learns from the past.”
The JOA, through its business product "Stamina" and the Olympic Solidarity Advanced Sports Management Course (ASMC), continues to promote educational initiatives aimed at sports development. JOA Secretary General Ryan Foster, who co-chairs the Finance Commission of CCS, highlighted the importance of such professional training programs. "For us at the JOA, education is dynamic to sport and sport development, and professional training provides the curriculum for growth and a return on investment. ROIs are themselves key performance indicators of a viable sporting sector," Foster stated.
CCS's inclusive approach involves utilizing the expertise of regional professionals in staging its junior and senior games as well as business forums. Burnett acknowledges the significance of this approach, noting the summit's potential to foster regional collaboration and knowledge sharing. "This programme offers an invaluable platform for sharing knowledge, discussing best practices, and exchanging ideas with fellow professionals from the region. Such a convergence of expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our collective ability to elevate the quality of sports reporting across the Caribbean and the Americas," he said.
Burnett's participation in the summit reflects the ongoing efforts to enhance sports journalism across the region, ensuring that the evolving landscape of sports is met with insightful and comprehensive coverage.
JAAA President Garth Gayle mourns the passing of former NACAC President Amadeo Francis
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) is deeply saddened by the passing of Amadeo Ignacio Daniel Francis Jr., the former President of the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) and a towering figure in the world of athletics. Francis, who hailed from Puerto Rico, passed away leaving behind a legacy of dedication and significant contributions to the sport across the Americas and beyond.
JAAA President Garth Gayle expressed his heartfelt condolences, recognizing Francis as a stalwart supporter of athletics and a true friend of Jamaica. "We have lost a solid partner and friend who worked assiduously to improve our sport in this region. He was always ready to listen and, if possible, encourage and implement programs that helped to elevate the sport. Amadeo was a giant among men. Sincere condolences to his family and friends along with the Puerto Rican Athletics Federation," said Gayle.
Amadeo Francis was primarily known as a talented 400-metre hurdler, representing Puerto Rico at the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games. He also served as a reserve in the 4x400m relay during both Olympic appearances. Francis demonstrated his athletic prowess by finishing fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 1955 Pan American Games and competing in two editions of the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Francis was a distinguished academic and professional. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in 1951 and earned a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1955. He later returned to the University of Puerto Rico, where he completed a Master of Public Administration in 1959.
Francis's career spanned several key positions in public administration and economic development. He quickly rose to become the Director of the Office of Economic Research in Puerto Rico and later held various executive roles, including Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, Deputy Administrator of the Puerto Rico Economic Development Administration in New York, and Commissioner of Commerce for the United States Virgin Islands.
In sports administration, Francis made an indelible impact on the global stage. He served on the council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as World Athletics, and held the position of Vice-President within the organization. As President of NACAC for two decades, Francis was instrumental in advancing athletics in the region. He also served as President of the Pan American Athletics Commission, further solidifying his influence in the world of sports.
Throughout his career, Francis received numerous accolades, including induction into the Hall of Fame of Puerto Rico Sports in 1980, and the prestigious Silver (1996) and Gold (2008) Order of Merit from the IAAF. His lifetime of achievements was recognized in 2020 when Marquis Who's Who presented him with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, highlighting his outstanding leadership and contributions to his field.
Amadeo Francis's passing marks the end of an era for athletics in the Caribbean and the Americas. His legacy, however, will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and administrators. The JAAA, along with the entire athletics community, mourns the loss of a true pioneer and extends its deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and the Puerto Rican Athletics Federation.
JAAA “deeply saddened” by CAS ruling preventing national champion Nayoka Clunis from competing in Paris Olympics
Nayoka Clunis will not get her chance to compete at the Paris Olympics as the Court of Arbitration for Sport Ad Hoc Division concluded that it lacks jurisdiction to hear the dispute brought forward by the 28-year-old.
Clunis, a four-time Jamaican national champion and current national record holder, filed a last-minute appeal to the CAS Ad Hoc Division on Friday after she qualified for and was selected by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to represent Jamaica in the hammer throw competition in Paris, but her name was not submitted by the local governing body to World Athletics.
“The application filed by Ms Nayoka Clunis (JAM), who sought a decision from the CAS ad hoc Division directing that she be included on the appropriate list to participate in the hammer throw competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, could not be entertained as it was filed outside the jurisdiction of the CAS ad hoc Division Paris 2024. As a consequence, the case could not be reviewed on the merits.” the CAS ad hoc division release stated on Monday.
It continued, “Nayoka Clunis was qualified and selected by the JAAA to represent Jamaica in the hammer throw competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, but her name was not submitted by the JAAA to World Athletics (WA) due to an unfortunate omission. The unused quota was reallocated to another athlete, Iryna Klymets (Ukraine).”
The JAAA expressed that they were “deeply saddened” by the situation in a release of their own on Monday.
“We note the decision of the ad hoc panel of CAS that they do not have jurisdiction to hear the matter as the dispute arose outside the 10 days window for disputes relating to the Olympic Games,” the release stated.
It continued: “At all times we (JAAA) have been supportive of the athlete’s participation at the Olympic Games and in fact had petitioned World Athletics to include her in the list of participating athletes even if it meant increasing the number of participants to 33.”
The Association noted that while World Athletics didn’t alter their position of 32 participants, they maintained that if any vacancy arises, it would be allocated to Clunis.
The statement continued: “Notwithstanding the above CAS also made note that the respondent (JAAA) would have been unable to provide the relief being sought by the applicant (Clunis) and that World Athletics and the IOC would be the ones that could provide that relief. Again, we are deeply saddened that this situation continues and are making every effort in the hope that World Athletics and the IOC will find a way to enable Ms. Clunis to compete in the Olympics.”
Clunis set a new national record of 71.83m at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson, Arizona in May, one of three throws she’s had over 70m this season.
She represented the country at the World Championships in Budapest last year and this would’ve been her first appearance at the Olympics.
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