There is not even a single Portmore athlete at the Beijing Olympics but if certain influential persons in the municipality have their way, that will soon change.

Mayor of Portmore Keith Hinds wants the Sunshine City to shine on the world stage and that is why, since taking over the reins as the municipality's head, he has been clamouring for a world-class sporting facility there. "A couple of months ago, I approached the Chinese Ambassador, Chen Jinghua, about constructing a sporting facility in Portmore," Mayor Lee revealed. He said he got a lukewarm response and noted that maybe it is because of the idleness of the Sligoville sporting facility, which was built through collaboration between Jamaica and China.

Dr Dane Levy, president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he believes Portmore will soon get an athlete representing Jamaica at the Olympics. "We just have to wait; that will soon happen. Portmore is still young," Levy said.

He pointed to the number of players from National Premier League team Portmore United who are on the Jamaica senior men's football team, and several players from Portmore Strikers, who are on Jamaica's female football team. He said this is quite inspiring and feels athletics will soon get its due. Levy was a bit concerned though that many prospective track stars are being lured away from athletics by football. "Football has a bigger draw and has more international limelight, therefore, more youngsters will be drawn to football," he said.

lucrative industry

The doctor believes, however, that more youngsters will be eyeing athletics because of its lucrative industry. "People are making a lot of money in athletics, especially in the European Grand Prix. Appearance fees, endorsements and advertisements, that's a lot of money," Levy said, adding that a drawback for athletes is that they don't have proper training facilities in Portmore to do well.

Greater Portmore High School track coach Shawn Cunningham uttered similar sentiments. "There aren't any proper training facilities here in Portmore. Athletes have to go to GC Foster in Spanish Town or the National Stadium in Kingston," he said, adding that athletes should stay in Portmore to build the municipality's programme. Cunningham noted also that athletes might do well during their junior years but have not made the transition from junior to the senior level adequately.

He said in the past 'big-name' high schools from the Corporate Area have been luring Portmore athletes away. Recent investigations by his coaching staff have revealed that students who pass their GSAT exams are being pressured to go to so-called 'big-name' schools.

Decosma Wright, formerly of Bridgeport High School, was the athlete from Portmore who came closest to qualifying for the Olympics when he placed second in the 110m men's final in 13.64 seconds, at the National Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on June 29. However, his time did not meet the Olympic standard and he was left out of the team.

All the parties agreed that for Portmore to produce world-class athletes, then all stakeholders, especially corporate Portmore, must come on-board to create the necessary conditions for excellent performance. Training facilities and proper nutrition are just some of the variables essential for success, they pointed out.