JAAA’s Gayle extends olive branch to JOA

Newly re-elected president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle has signaled his willingness to foster greater working relationship with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and has requested the Minister of Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange convene a meeting towards that end.

According to a release from the JAAA following Saturday’s Annual General Meeting at Jamaica College where Gayle and his slate were unanimously re-elected, Gayle, who is starting his second term as president, said the two sporting bodies share the same ideals, “the development and opportunities for our athletes and sportspersons, our shared commitment.”

In recent times, the relationship between the two bodies have been strained and, according to the release, Gayle said it was time for the organisations to start listening to each other.

There were marked differences between the two entities in the lead up to the recent Olympic Games in Paris, France, particularly over the number of accreditation for track and field coaches.

Members of the track and field delegation had asked for more accreditations, especially for individual coaches but the JOA had responded by saying they had issued the maximum allowed by the International Olympic Committee’s quota allocations.

At Saturday’s meeting, Gayle said “the time has come for both associations to unite under their shared commitment to the development of Jamaica’s athletes and the broader sports community.

“The ‘Jamaica’ in the names of both associations reminds us that we serve under one flag with the development and opportunities for our athletes and sportspersons our shared commitment,” the release quoted Gayle as saying.

The president noted, the release said, “for the nation’s continuing international success, we need to listen to each other, put all our efforts in the product that we are, that is a cooperative, united body, working for the good of all stakeholders, sponsors, administrators, technical operators, coaches, medicals, clubs, but more so our athletes who are the centre of our existence.”

The release said Gayle, “expressed optimism about the future, both for the association and for Jamaica’s athletes,” thanking all stakeholders, “and urged them to continue working together for the continued growth and success of the sport.”