Author Patrick Robinson beams with pride as he is flanked by Olympians Shelly-Ann Fraser and Asafa Powell after a book signing at the Hope United Church Hall in Liguanea, St Andrew, yesterday afternoon. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

SPORTS enthusiast and jurist Patrick Robinson is calling for the establishment of a national athletics museum to memorialise Jamaica's tremendous legacy over the years.

He also urged the Jamaican Government to set up a national athletics fund to finance the needs of the country's past and present athletes, as well as assist in the provision of gear for secondary-school athletes.

Speaking yesterday during a signing of the third edition of his book, Jamaican Athletics: A Model For The World, at the Hope United Church Hall in Liguanea, St Andrew, Robinson said the museum would help to immortalise the accomplishments of athletes, coaches and administrators.

Chalk to cheese

"Please don't let me hear that the museum is going to be devoted to some other sport as well, like football or cricket, because they are not, quite frankly, in the class of athletics," Robinson said. "That's like chalk to cheese."

He added: "We cannot allow our achievements in Beijing to be a nine-day wonder. We must work to build on the successes we have achieved. Don't make the mistake we made in cricket. The West Indies dominated cricket for 20 to 25 years and where are we now?"

Robinson, who is also a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, Holland, said Jamaicans should appreciate the fact that they have the two top sprint coaches in the world - Glen Mills and Stephen Francis.

Mills transformed wunderkind Usain Bolt from an injury-prone junior into an Olympic triple gold medallist and world-record holder. Francis is renowned for his MVP Track Club, whose charges won a slew of medals for Jamaica - and Britain in the case of Germaine Mason - at the Beijing Games.

Robinson said it was disappointing to note that many athletes are still forced to train without proper equipment.

"Would you believe that in a country where speed is not in short supply, you cannot find more than 10 secondary schools that have a full set of hurdles? At one stage last year, G.C. Foster (the island's only sports university) did not have a full set of hurdles," he said.

"I want to suggest to you, as Jamaicans who are undoubtedly proud of our athletic achievements, do something about that," Robinson argued.

He promised to donate half the proceeds from sales generated at his book signing to initiate the establishment of the fund.