World Champs-bound J’cans revel in royal treatment in Japan
SIX days into their pre-World Championship training camp at Tottori, Japan, Jamaica’s technical leader Maurice Wilson says they are well taken care of.
“The Japanese have been the consummate hosts, we could not ask for more,” said Wilson.
The Tottori Prefecture hosts are spending approximately US$200,000 (about J$20 million) in making sure the Jamaicans are as comfortable as they can be in their final preparation for the World Championship which begins on August 22.
The 10-day camp, which started on August 8, will see the Japanese also taking care of Jamaica’s airfare to Beijing.
Former world record holder Asafa Powell, Javon Francis, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson and Hansle Parchment are among a number of athletes in camp early, while defending World Champions Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are expected to join up soon.
But despite not having all 53 members in camp at the moment, Wilson, says it’s a “great vibes with who we have”.
The athletes were greeted and feted on Saturday by the Japanese, who provided reggae and dancehall music to the delight of athletes, who it said were quick to display their dancing skills.
Hundreds of spectators have turned up at the camp to get glimpses of the Jamaicans in training.
There was a surprised birthday cake for 2012 Olympic 100m silver medallist, Sherone Simpson, who turned 31 on Wednesday, where she was pictured cutting the cake with 110m hurdler Hansle Parchment.
Wednesday was also a media for fans as they got a chance to meet the athletes who signed autographs.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s 800 runner Natoya Goule, apparently raring to get into action, posted on Facebook that “I cant wait to represent my country with fellow Manchester High aluminis Nesta Carter, Sherone Simpson, Elaine Thompson and Omar McLeod”.
She continued: “It feels so good to know that so much of us gonna be wearing the black, green and gold for our country. Jerry Holness must be proud.”