Olympian Clifton Forbes who represented Jamaica at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Monday, after a long illness.

Forbes served Jamaica not only as an athlete, but also as manager for teams to Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and Central America and Caribbean Games. He also served as trainer of the Sunshine Girls.

He is, however, best remembered as a member of Jamaica's 4x100m quartet which also included Errol Stewart, Michael Fray and Lennox Miller, who equalled then broke the world's sprint relay record on the same day at the Games in Mexico City.

The Jamaican quartet clocked a world record 38.6 seconds in the heats and lowered it to 38.3 in the semi-finals. They were, however, edged out of a medal by France in the final with both countries clocking 38.4. The United States won gold in a world record 38.2 with Cuba second in 38.3.

Forbes ran the 400m at the same Games but did not advance to the final.

Yesterday Mike Fennell, the president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, described the passing of Forbes as "very sad for all of us." "He has contributed to Jamaica's sports in different ways," said Fennell, who sent condolences to his family. Forbes who has a personal best of 45.75 in the 400m was 64 years old.