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Big names confirmed for Jamaica Invitational
By Howard Walker Observer Senior Reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Usain Bolt heads a host of Olympic and World champions for the Jamaica National Building Society's (JN) Jamaica International Invitational Meet to be held at the National Stadium on Saturday, May 5.
The meet, which is pushing for Diamond League status, will have Bolt — the Olympic champion in the 100m, 200m in record time — as one of seven top-class athletes signed to compete at the track and field event.
Assistant general manager of JN group marketing, sales and promotion, Leon Mitchell (2nd left), in discussion with JAAA executives (from left) Donald Quarrie (left), president Dr Warren Blake and Ludlow Watt at the launch of the JN Invitational meet at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Assistant general manager of JN group marketing, sales and promotion, Leon Mitchell (2nd left), in discussion with JAAA executives (from left) Donald Quarrie (left), president Dr Warren Blake and Ludlow Watt at the launch of the JN Invitational meet at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
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"It is always a great privilege to run in front of my home fans," double world record-holder Bolt said on his website of competing in the IAAF world challenge-level meeting.
"There is always great energy and excitement in the stadium and I will look to put on a good show for the fans.
"This will be my first big meet of 2012 as I prepare to defend my titles in the Olympic Games in London in August," added Bolt, who has already been confirmed for the Golden Spike in Ostrava, Golden Gala in Rome and Bislett Games in Oslo.
World Championship 100m male and female champion Yohan Blake and Carmelita Jeter of the USA; defending Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker; Grenada's 400m World Champion Kirani James and former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, have all confirmed their participation for the event.
At the press launch at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel yesterday, meet director Donald Quarrie, promised another fantastic event.
"Most of the athletes don't want to travel very far (and) most are preparing for the Olympics and this has always been a good measuring ground to see where they are and to compete with a few of the best athletes before they get into tip-top shape," said Quarrie, the former Jamaican 200m record holder with 19.86 seconds and Olympic gold medallist in 1976 in Montreal, Canada.
"Those seven could show up at any meet and be the cream of the crop. Fortunately for us we still have a lot more who are interested in coming and we hope we will be able to afford them," said Quarrie.
"Our athletes have increased in number as far as the elite in the world and most of them will be competing here. Few have signed agreements, but I can assure we will see just about all of them," he reiterated.
This year's JN Jamaica International Invitational Meet, with a budget of $118m, is in its ninth year and third under title sponsors JNBS.
Leon Mitchell, assistant general manager of JN group marketing, sales and promotion, said the business of sports and in particular track and field has achieved new levels of importance.
"The Jamaica National Building Society... is proud to be the financial partner and title sponsor of this year's meet," said Mitchell.
"This year marks the final year of our commitment to work with the JAAA to make this athletic meet into one of the most anticipated sporting engagements in Jamaica and the world. We look forward to the global broadcast of the meet to more than 25 countries and with an estimated viewership of 160 millionn households," said Mitchell.
In the meantime the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) is hopeful that the meet, which was upgraded by the world governing International Amateur Athletic Federaion (IAAF) to an IAAF Challenge Meet in 2011, be upgraded further to a Diamond League event.
Dennis Gordon, executive member of the JAAA, pointed out that Jamaicans and in particular the media, will be inconvenienced as changes are made to reach international standards, if the country hopes to be granted the prestigious Diamond League status.
"There will be new regulations and restrictions. We are asking that you support the JAAA in administering these changes as we push for a Diamond League status," said Gordon, who chaired the press launch.
JAAA president Dr Warren Blake also touched on the upgrading topic as their ultimate objective.
Said Blake: "With the continued support of our athletes and sponsors like JN, we will soon be rewarded with grand prix status because that is our ultimate objectives to be part of the golden gala league of events."
The Jamaican meet is expected to start at 7:00 pm and will include 19 events. Ticket prizes range from $500 for bleachers to $3,000 at the finish area.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1pNlAIYN2
By Howard Walker Observer Senior Reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Usain Bolt heads a host of Olympic and World champions for the Jamaica National Building Society's (JN) Jamaica International Invitational Meet to be held at the National Stadium on Saturday, May 5.
The meet, which is pushing for Diamond League status, will have Bolt — the Olympic champion in the 100m, 200m in record time — as one of seven top-class athletes signed to compete at the track and field event.
Assistant general manager of JN group marketing, sales and promotion, Leon Mitchell (2nd left), in discussion with JAAA executives (from left) Donald Quarrie (left), president Dr Warren Blake and Ludlow Watt at the launch of the JN Invitational meet at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Assistant general manager of JN group marketing, sales and promotion, Leon Mitchell (2nd left), in discussion with JAAA executives (from left) Donald Quarrie (left), president Dr Warren Blake and Ludlow Watt at the launch of the JN Invitational meet at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)#slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}
1/1 "It is always a great privilege to run in front of my home fans," double world record-holder Bolt said on his website of competing in the IAAF world challenge-level meeting.
"There is always great energy and excitement in the stadium and I will look to put on a good show for the fans.
"This will be my first big meet of 2012 as I prepare to defend my titles in the Olympic Games in London in August," added Bolt, who has already been confirmed for the Golden Spike in Ostrava, Golden Gala in Rome and Bislett Games in Oslo.
World Championship 100m male and female champion Yohan Blake and Carmelita Jeter of the USA; defending Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker; Grenada's 400m World Champion Kirani James and former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, have all confirmed their participation for the event.
At the press launch at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel yesterday, meet director Donald Quarrie, promised another fantastic event.
"Most of the athletes don't want to travel very far (and) most are preparing for the Olympics and this has always been a good measuring ground to see where they are and to compete with a few of the best athletes before they get into tip-top shape," said Quarrie, the former Jamaican 200m record holder with 19.86 seconds and Olympic gold medallist in 1976 in Montreal, Canada.
"Those seven could show up at any meet and be the cream of the crop. Fortunately for us we still have a lot more who are interested in coming and we hope we will be able to afford them," said Quarrie.
"Our athletes have increased in number as far as the elite in the world and most of them will be competing here. Few have signed agreements, but I can assure we will see just about all of them," he reiterated.
This year's JN Jamaica International Invitational Meet, with a budget of $118m, is in its ninth year and third under title sponsors JNBS.
Leon Mitchell, assistant general manager of JN group marketing, sales and promotion, said the business of sports and in particular track and field has achieved new levels of importance.
"The Jamaica National Building Society... is proud to be the financial partner and title sponsor of this year's meet," said Mitchell.
"This year marks the final year of our commitment to work with the JAAA to make this athletic meet into one of the most anticipated sporting engagements in Jamaica and the world. We look forward to the global broadcast of the meet to more than 25 countries and with an estimated viewership of 160 millionn households," said Mitchell.
In the meantime the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) is hopeful that the meet, which was upgraded by the world governing International Amateur Athletic Federaion (IAAF) to an IAAF Challenge Meet in 2011, be upgraded further to a Diamond League event.
Dennis Gordon, executive member of the JAAA, pointed out that Jamaicans and in particular the media, will be inconvenienced as changes are made to reach international standards, if the country hopes to be granted the prestigious Diamond League status.
"There will be new regulations and restrictions. We are asking that you support the JAAA in administering these changes as we push for a Diamond League status," said Gordon, who chaired the press launch.
JAAA president Dr Warren Blake also touched on the upgrading topic as their ultimate objective.
Said Blake: "With the continued support of our athletes and sponsors like JN, we will soon be rewarded with grand prix status because that is our ultimate objectives to be part of the golden gala league of events."
The Jamaican meet is expected to start at 7:00 pm and will include 19 events. Ticket prizes range from $500 for bleachers to $3,000 at the finish area.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1pNlAIYN2