Jamaican athletes get fitting Japanese farewell
AS part of their gratitude towards the Tottori Prefecture, the Jamaican coaching staff imparted the vast knowledge of athletics by conducting theoretical and practical lectures to their Japanese hosts on Saturday.
Technical leader Maurice Wilson, Head Coach Michael Clarke and sprint guru Glen Mills conducted seminars on sprinting techniques for coaches before taking to the track where athletes were taught the basic rudiments.
The Jamaicans were guests of the Tottori Prefecture for their pre World Championships training camp for 10 days, which started on August 8. The camp ends tomorrow, from which the Jamaican athletes will head directly to Beijing.
The Japanese, who covered the costs associated with the Jamaican training camp to the tune of J$20 million, feted the team during a send-off ceremony at the Tottori Civic Hall on Saturday.
Special needs children presented team members with token paper medals, which they made, and they were entertained by world number one female karate expert, Rika Usami.
Tottori High School band also played Jamaica’s National Anthem during the send-off.
The IAAF Beijing World Championships gets cracking on Saturday.
— Howard Walker