World Athletics Pledges Millions to Support Jamaica’s Track and Field Recovery

World Athletics has committed US$100,000 (nearly J$16 million) to support Jamaica's track and field community as it recovers from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement was made by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe at the conclusion of a four-day visit to the island, where he met with key figures, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Sport Olivia "Babsy" Grange.

The Category 5 hurricane, which struck in October, caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the western parishes.

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Many schools and athletic clubs are still struggling to resume normal operations, with some coaches reporting that athletes have not yet returned to training.

During his visit, Seb Coe, a two-time Olympic 1500m champion for Great Britain, engaged with athletes and coaches at institutions like Jamaica College and Excelsior High School to assess the situation firsthand.

Speaking at a press conference at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) headquarters on Wednesday, Seb Coe affirmed the global governing body's commitment to helping restore normality.

"I've learned that there are things that World Athletics can help with," Seb Coe stated as quoted by Jamaica Observer. "We have expertise, we have experience, we can recruit external teams and agencies to come to the table to help, and, yes, we do have modest sums available to us in terms of financial resources."

"I’m delighted to be able to announce this morning that through the International Athletics Foundation, we will make available US$100,000 to help with those pathways and those programmes," he confirmed.

Seb Coe emphasised that the support would be strategic and aimed at creating a lasting impact, rather than offering quick fixes.

He noted that discussions with the JAAA executive board and school principals had highlighted specific areas where World Athletics could play a meaningful role.

"It’s not one that I want to come to the table with glib or fast answers," he added. "It is to make sure that those programmes that we can help support, and sometimes even facilitate, have a lasting influence."

The World Athletics president stressed the crucial role of sport in community recovery during times of disaster.

"Through sport, I know I bring a crucial asset to the table, and that is the ability of sport to reach out to communities that have been hard hit... in a way that very few activities can," Coe explained.

"We also, I like to think, bring comfort and hope in times where communities do get occasionally ripped apart."

Further fundraising efforts are already in the works. Following a productive meeting with Kingston's Mayor Andrew Swaby, a 5K run is being planned for the Easter period to generate additional funds for hurricane victims.

"I have agreed to become the patron of that race," Coe announced. "I will also ask some of my friends in the sport to join me as fellow patrons so that you’ve got a few more names to gather around and hopefully raise funds through."

While praising Jamaica's sustained global success, Seb Coe cautioned against complacency, urging the JAAA and the government to continue investing in the structures that support athletic talent.