Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor

FENNEL

JAMAICA COULD be represented in just two sports at the August 8-24 Beijing Olympics.

Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Mike Fennell, in an interview on Monday, said track and field and equestrian are the only two sports which have already qualified for the Games.

According to Fennell, who is also president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, sportpersons from five other sports could be in line for national colours if they are successful at qualifying tournaments, some of which are now in progress.

"Athletics, of course, is not subject to qualification, it is subject to selection because a long list of our athletes have met the qualifying standards," Fennell said.

"The JAAA will do this selection based on their national championships and trials which come up in June," he said.

"The only other sport that has already qualified is equestrian. Samantha Albert will compete in Eventing."

Boxers on the list

Albert competed in this event at last year's Pan American Games in Brazil.

Five other sports are at various stages of competing for spots at the Games, Fennell said.

"A number of boxers went to a qualification tournament in Trinidad and Tobago last month and none qualified. Another group will be going to a qualification tournament in Guatemala this month and we will wait and see what happens from that."

The two boxers who will leave for Guatemala later this month are Nicholas Walters and Ricardo Smith.

"Two riders, Iona Wynter and Ricardo Lynch, have gone very close to qualification so far in cycling," Fennell added.

Four swimmers are also under consideration and it should be known before the end of this month whether they have obtained the required qualifying times. The swimmers are Alia Atkinson, who went to the last Games in Athens, Natasha Moodie, Jevon Atkinson and Brad Hamilton.

The women's football team is also seeking to make the trip to Beijing. The Reggae Girlz left the island on Monday for the final qualifying tournament which kicked off in Mexico yesterday.

"They have a very difficult draw. Only two teams will be selected from the CONCACAF region and they will have to work very hard to qualify," Fennell said. The JOA president said a shooter was also attempting to earn qualification to the Jamaica team for the Beijing.

Jamaica competed in four sports - track and field, swimming, shooting and badminton - at the Athens Games of 2004.

JOA first vice-president, Don Anderson, the head of delegation in Athens four years ago, will again be the Chef de Mission in Beijing. His deputy will be Compton Rodney, the Chef de Mission at last year's Pan American Games in Brazil.