JOA prepares for heavy competition cycle

Fresh from Jamaica’s medal‑winning performances at the recent Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games, Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) President Christopher Samuda says the organisation is ramping up preparations for a busy period of international competition.

“We have the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, and we’ll be sending a delegation to that. Then we have the Pan American Games next year,” Samuda told The Gleaner.

Jamaica ended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with 19 medals — 10 gold, four silver, and five bronze — and secured 11 medals at the CAC Games in Santo Domingo: one gold, four silver, and six bronze.

With national athletes already shifting their focus to upcoming championships, Samuda noted that the JOA’s work extends beyond major events.

“But for our member associations, we’re highly involved in their own competitions,” he said.

The JOA president emphasised that the organisation’s mandate goes beyond competition, highlighting its commitment to long‑term athlete development across all sporting bodies under its umbrella.

“… We have several competitions for the remainder of this year, and next year, that our member associations will be participating in, and we’ll be supporting them. Some of them, of course, will be qualifications for the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games, and that, of course, is very vital to us,” Samuda said.

He added that other athletes will be competing simply to improve their craft.

“So we’re not only in the business of competition, but we’re in the business of developing talent in the respective sports,” he said.