KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has issued a call for applications for its management teams for regional and international games, spanning both summer and winter, from 2025 to 2029.
JOA President Christopher Samuda emphasized the importance of professional sports management, highlighting that “sport is a professional undertaking and a critical element is policy selection which searches for the best talent who wish an opportunity to serve their country and to manage, not only talent but also their aspirations as they strive for excellence. It’s an outgrowth of corporate governance in sport.”
Key corporate figures who are deeply involved in sports, as well as experienced sports administrators, have been invited by the JOA to lead its teams. “It is simply this: our country deserves the best talent and at the JOA this is not only a philosophy but a modus operandi that continues to define who we are and those to whom we commit the nation’s business in sport,” stated JOA Secretary-General and CEO Ryan Foster.
Over the past five years, there has been a noticeable increase in interest in sports management, spurred by the JOA’s “Stamina” educational product and the IOC’s Solidarity Advanced Sport Management Course. This trend has reinforced President Samuda’s belief in the decision to exclude JOA directors from serving on its games management teams, a policy implemented upon the current administration’s assumption of office.
An inclusive and transparent selection process
“There are so many professionals who want to table their talent, who wish a games experience as they self-actualize in sport in the nation’s interest. So give them a chance to embrace, as we are doing as directors, the Olympic experience,” Samuda noted.
Foster, who also serves as Chairman of the Games Commission of the JOA and a member of the Technical Commission of Centro Caribe Sports, underscored the importance of an inclusive and transparent selection process. “If you wish to earn confidence in your selection, you must not technically or otherwise, play games but open the sport to those who wish meaningfully to play, change and transform the game,” he declared.
Acknowledging that sports management should be objective and results-driven, President Samuda reiterated, “for the JOA it’s not ‘eeny, meeny, miny, moe’ or ‘riddle me this or riddle me that’ in selecting persons. There is no guessing me this riddle and perhaps not. It’s all about, as I have said on many occasions and in various fora, forensically and discerningly unearthing servant leadership that understands objectively that you commit not to yourself but to others and a country.”
The JOA has announced that the selection process will commence following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11.
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