UWI Signs Agreement with IAAF and Racers Club

  As the UWI, Mona continues its efforts to support the development of Jamaica’s natural athletic talent and respond to the opportunities in sport that are emerging, Mona has signed collaborative agreements with the International Association of Athletic Federation’s (IAAF) High Performance Training Centre and with Racers Track Club (RTC), home to international track sensation Usain Bolt, for both entities to be based at the Mona Bowl and to use UWI’s sporting facilities for training purposes.

The agreement with the IAAF High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) is for three years in the first instance and will see HPTC athletes being housed at Mona, conduct training sessions at the Bowl as well as collaborate with various UWI departments in sports-related services, interventions and research. HPTC will also collaborate with the Sports Unit by
promoting and participating in major track and field meets hosted by the Campus.

The agreement with the Racers Track Club shall be in force for 15 years. under the terms of this agreement, RTC will conduct training sessions at the Mona Bowl sporting facilities, collaborate with various departments in sports-related services, interventions and research. RTC will also participate in promotions for athletics meets, seminars and workshops as well as
participate in the UWI Invitational Track Meet and selected seminars and workshops.

Details of these agreements were announced at the launch of the UWI’s Sports Initiative and Seminar Series on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge & Conference Centre. Mona Principal, Professor Gordon Shirley, in remarks read by the Deputy Principal, noted that this development fit into Mona’s vision for its own development over the period of the University’’s strategic plan 2007-2012. He reminded the audience that UWI had earlier entered into an agreement with the Jamaica Football Federation to establish the National Football Academy at the Mona Bowl as a way of signalling the
university’’s commitment to developing athletic talent in order to promote the nation’’s international competitiveness.

Director of Sports, Grace Jackson, also used the opportunity to introduce members of the new UWI coaching team: Glen Mills
Sprints; Fitz Coleman - Hurdles & Quarter-mile; Jerry Holness - Middle Distance & Cross Country; Michael Vassell - Throws; and Kerry-Lee Ricketts - Fitness Coach & Jumps. Mention was also made of the scholarships now being awarded in track & field and football to selected athletes in these areas, as well as the full programme of training and nutrition support for them, with the intention of developing teams that will reach the top in local or international competition. Current scholarship recipients who were present were introduced to the large gathering.

Following on the launch, Ms. Jackson delivered the first in the series of sports seminars on the History of Track & Field as it relates to international high performance by Jamaican athletes.