One persistent positive area of post-independence Jamaica lies in the area of sports, especially over the past two decades.
In earlier years, Jamaica was accustomed to occasional brilliant individual achievements by few athletes in track and field events at various Olympic meets. However, more and more Jamaican athletes have impressed in recent years. Today, Jamaica is among the strongest countries in sprint events at international track and field meets, including the Olympics. Furthermore, Jamaican sportsmen and women are excelling in other sports like soccer, netball, swimming, and even ice-hockey.
Despite the impressive success of Jamaicans in international sport tournaments, the development of sports in Jamaica isn’t administered by a dedicated ministry of sports. Rather, the sports ministry is attached to other ministries.
Currently, under the administration of Jamaica’s government, the sports ministerial portfolio is included in the super-ministry of Sports, Culture, Entertainment, and Gender Affairs. In former administrations the sports portfolio was attached to the Ministry of Education or other ministries.
Although the incumbent Minister of Sports, Culture, Entertainment and Gender Affairs isn’t being criticized for her handling of the sports portfolio, sports in Jamaica have developed to such an extent it now requires a dedicated Ministry of Sports, without the sports minister bogged down with other portfolio responsibilities.
In the wake of Jamaica’s women soccer team, the Reggae Girlz, outstanding achievements at the FIFA Women World Cup in New Zealand/Australia, controversy evolved regarding Jamaica’s official support for the team.
There’s popular opinion the team received very little financial and other support from the Jamaican private and public sectors, and even had to resort to its own fundraising efforts to make it to the tournament. But, both the Jamaica Football Federation and the minister responsible for sports, countered the criticism indicating the team was given financial support.
If indeed the team didn’t get the appropriate financial support it needed to compete at the foremost international tournament in women’s soccer, it would be a drastic disappointment. There has also been past criticism from other Jamaican teams traveling to other international tournaments, about being underfunded and adversely affected.
Many years ago, before tourism became the vast revenue earner it now is in the Jamaican economy, the tourism portfolio was also attached to other ministries, like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
Back then, much of Jamaica’s tourism development was embodied in the Jamaica Tourist Board. But, when tourism began to expand, a dedicated Ministry of Tourism was created to effectively administer the tourism industry.
Similarly, it’s time for creating a separate, dedicated Ministry of Sports, so structured to administer the operators of the various sports’ organizations administering sports in Jamaica; set a national sports policy including the transition of Jamaican youth athletes from high school sports to the professional level; monitor fees for professional athletes; appropriate budgets for participation of teams at international events; develop and manage Jamaica’s sports infrastructure, including playing fields, and practicing facilities, etc.
But, most importantly, the Ministry of Sports should be responsible for the growth of the commercial aspect of Jamaican sports. Based on the success of several Jamaican track and field clubs responsible for training athletes for international tournaments, overseas athletes now regularly visit Jamaica to be trained at these clubs.
This is an area with tremendous potential for making Jamaica a hub for training of international track and field athletes, especially in sprint events.
The annual Boys and Girls Championships have gained international recognition as one of, if not, the most outstanding such high school sporting events, attracting more visitors each year. ‘Champs’ can be the seed for Jamaica hosting an international annual high school championship similar to the Penn Relays.
There are several other events which Jamaica could host to attract international participation, and persistently develop its athletes to participate. The achievements of Jamaican sports men and women is highlighting Brand Jamaica. Every effort, every support, must be given to these young athletes to excel in their chosen sports.
The brighter Brand Jamaica shines in sports, the easier it will be to market the commercial aspect of Jamaican sports. Significant revenue can be generated to pay Jamaican athletes’ decent fees, ensure they have appropriate diet and training facilities to compete, competent and talented coaches are hired, and youth all over the country have a serious option to explore as their career path.
The full potential of development of sports in Jamaica is yet to be realized. Like tourism, sports in Jamaica need to be harnessed under a dedicated Ministry of Sports. This can only benefit the country.
Jamaica has beaches, great hotels, gifted entertainers, and some of the best sportsmen and women. It’s time to develop Jamaica’s sport sector to its full potential.
