The Editor, Sir:

So how does Jamaica now retain the momentum of Beijing 2008 and prepare for London 2012?

Let us look at the raw talent that gained Jamaica this 'bankra' of medals.

These world-beating athletes are for the most part home-grown, originating in rural and inner-city communities. Today, public and private sectors seem to be competing to endorse the hero status of youth whom (without the medals and world fame) the more privileged would have chased from their gates and car windows, and would have denied employment in their businesses.

Eleven Olympic medals, six gold, are not only cause for celebration. The achievement is also opportunity for reparation for past injustices. So where do we begin? We can repair some breaches and create new poss-ibilities for the 2012 Olympics by taking steps to create stars of:

1. Swimming and diving. Some youth have already been honing their talent in the Kingston Harbour.

2. Hurdles and high jump. Police and dogs have long motivated some youth to scale the highest of zinc fences and walls with a single leap and no opportunity for second chances.

3. Long jump and triple jump. Many youth already have the muscle strength and coordination needed to leap across a gully with no sand to soften the fall if they jump short.

4. Sprint. We have barely tapped the surface so far, considering that some youth have needed to develop the skills of outrunning bullets.

5. Shooting. Some youth could well be earning Olympic gold medals rather than prison sentences (or spaces in the cemetery) if they had the benefit of the equipment and discipline required for international competition.

Perhaps, after all, more time in a jail and in prison, and greater likelihood of death by police gun or hangman's noose (as proposed by Prime Minister Golding) might not be the answer to what ails our youth who are going astray. Perhaps the youth need what most youth would welcome - opport-unity to use their unique talents to achieve success.

I am, etc.,

Yvonne McCalla Sobers

Kingston