More than 18 athletes are set to benefit directly from a landmark partnership between the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and Racers Grand Prix under the JOA’s Olympic Invest programme, a multi-year initiative aimed at accelerating athlete development, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing technical capabilities across Jamaican sport.

With an investment of JMD $5miilion from the JOA, the three-year programme, which runs through to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, will provide support not only for elite performance but also for coaching development and the integration of advanced technology. It was officially unveiled at the JOA headquarters in Kingston on Thursday morning, with remarks from JOA President Christopher Samuda, Racers Grand Prix head coach and president Glen Mills, and CEO of Racers Grand Prix Devon Blake.

Samuda framed the partnership as part of a deeper philosophy of sports governance: investing in the often-overlooked structural and educational elements of development. “What we are looking at eventually will be a proposal for attention and for Athens—that neglected child of sport,” he said. “And we hope that we will be able to give that child a home through the efforts of the Jamaica Olympic Association and Racers  Grand Prix.”

He emphasised that infrastructure is not a luxury but a prerequisite for success. “We cannot pursue success in sport unless there is infrastructure,” Samuda declared. “As I’ve repeatedly said, there can’t be any swimmer without a 50-metre pool. A basketball player aspiring to the Olympic stage—his dreams will be shattered if he does not have the court.”

He added that partnerships of this kind are not cosmetic. “We are interested not only in delivering Games—the Olympics, the Pan Am Games, the Commonwealth and CAC Games—but delivering value. And inextricably linked to that value is the human asset of sport—the athletes—for whom we exist. If they do not exist, we can close the door and go home.”

Coach Glen Mills, whose Racers Grand Club has produced some of the greatest sprinters in history, welcomed the collaboration and used the opportunity to issue a pointed call for broader reform. “For a man who has given over 60 years of working for the athletes, I always welcome anything that is progressive and beneficial towards their development,” Mills said. “We see the athletes competing on the track, and we take it for granted. But I can tell you—it’s weeks, months, years of hard work, pain, suffering, and sacrifice for them to get there.”

He commended the JOA for “leading from the front” and emphasised that the current model of development is too fragile. “We’ve had tremendous success over the last 20 years. I think in one Olympic cycle, we were only second to the United States in medal haul. But if you notice, there’s been a downward trend over the last few Games.”

According to Mills, the problem lies in a lack of sustained support structures. “We’ve rested on our laurels and failed to put programmes in place to support the continuation of success. A lot depends on my colleagues at MVP, Racers, and a few other clubs. If we’re not producing, the numbers will reduce.”

He said more investment is urgently needed in the transition phase between high school and the professional level. “Not everybody gets a contract. A lot of promising athletes go begging because there’s no support. We need a more comprehensive programme, and that’s what makes this partnership important.”

Devon Blake, CEO of Racers Grand Prix, outlined two key pillars of the new partnership. First, a training and technology component that introduces biomechanical and tactical analysis tools to coaches and performance teams across JOA member associations. “This platform will enable them to collect data from both a team perspective and from an individual athlete perspective,” Blake explained. “That kind of analysis is vital if we’re going to keep up with global best practices.”

The second pillar is the creation of a performance pathway from domestic competition to international exposure. “We want to offer a route for local athletes who participate in the Olympic Destiny Series to qualify for the Racers Grand Prix. If they meet the qualifying standard, they’ll be given that opportunity.” Blake also issued a call to sponsors. “I’m going to make an appeal for additional sponsorship from now, so that we can ensure that the Racers Grand Prix continues. It’s truly one-of-a-kind in Jamaica, and it deserves the kind of backing that ensures its sustainability.”

He confirmed that the current programme will run through 2028 and will benefit at least 18 athletes immediately—with more expected in future phases. “We have a period in which we can build and create something that is special,” Blake said. “I’m looking forward to more dialogue with the JOA as we roll out the training sessions and other elements of the collaboration.”

Describing the partnership as “a model for others,” Samuda reiterated that Thursday’s announcement is not a one-off. “We’ve already supported entities through Olympic Invest in their events and programmes. This one is significant because it unites two global assets in sport—Racers Grand Prix and the Jamaica Olympic Association—committed to ensuring that our athletes and the infrastructure of sport thrive.”

In closing, Samuda delivered a vision of purpose: “We do things by virtue of how we interpret history and how we interpret the future. And the vision for the future must be linked with partnerships of this nature.”