Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Don Quarrie

BEIJING, China:

TECHNICAL leader of Jamaica's track-and-field team in Beijing, Donald Quarrie, still basking in the glory of the athletes' outstanding showing at the just-concluded Games, has slammed comments which have suggested that Jamaica has suddenly come to the fore as a country with vast sprinting talent.

"The whole idea of Jamaica suddenly emerging as a track power in the sprints is a joke," Quarrie said as the athletes, most of whom will go on to meets in Europe, made preparations to leave the Games Village.

Many journalists and other commentators here have little knowledge of the history of Jamaica's performance at the Games.

High goal

"We have always been a track power. We have always been close to getting medals. The difference is that this time we got medals and it is something that we will continue to do because now that we have set a high goal for ourselves, I think London 2012, which we have to start looking at immediately, will be another Games that Jamaica will shine," the 1976 200 metres gold medallist said.

Quarrie lauded the managers and coaches here.

"The management and coaching staff did their best to keep the team together, did their best to prepare the team and did their best to ensure that that Jamaica benefited from decisions that were made and that the athletes also benefited from them to the extent where their performances were enhanced by whatever decisions were made."

Quarrie praised the pre-Games training camp.

"The training camp that we had was an excellent idea, as far as the team was concerned, in getting them prepared for the Games," he said.

He also picked out triple gold medallist Usain Bolt for special mention.

Other highlights

"The performance of Usain Bolt will be remembered as one of the highlights of the Games, but there were others that were overwhelming. We had a lot of finalists and a lot of medals.

"The women as usual (without Bolt) outshone the men. They had excellent performances. There are other areas in which we came through. For example, Chelsea Hammond entered as a 'B' qualifier and ended up fourth in the women's long jump."

Jamaica's ambassador to China, Wayne McCook, came in for special mention.

"The assistance we got from Ambassador McCook was also overwhelming. He did so many things to make Jamaica more comfortable. At the training camp, he loaned us a member of his staff who prepared meals. That sort of job is something that is needed when a team goes away for a major championship like the Olympic Games and I want to commend Ambassador McCook for what he has done for us.

"We are also happy that the Minister of Sports, Olivia Grange, was here for most of the Games. We saw her on many occasions. She was at the stadium cheering along and that was very positive.

"We got calls from a lot of people wishing the team well, including Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller. Our president, Howard Aris was also in touch with us daily, finding out what was going on and ensuring that our athletes were still on the right track."

Quarrie was also quick to point out that he had no medal tally in mind going into the Games.

Anything can happen

"This is the Olympic Games. What I did was to wait until the medals were won before counting them because anything can happen in the Olympic Games. It is good to have wishes, it is good to have hopes but what you want along with these wishes and hopes are results and I am happy that the results turned out."

He said the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association will have to sit down and start making plans soon.

"There is not a whole lot that needs to be done but there are little things I am sure our executive body and our association will look into to see how much better we can prepare our athletes for the next Games."