Place athletes, JAAA on contracts
Published: Wednesday | September 2, 2009
Re: Time for contractual obligations between the JAAA and the athletes.
Athletics has developed into a booming business in Jamaica. For a business to succeed, there must be contractual obligations between the parties who participate in the enterprise. I am, therefore, calling on the Government of Jamaica to design a contract that must be signed by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) and each athlete who represents Jamaica at an international athletic meet. This, I am sure, will reduce the number of embarrassing controversies between the JAAA and the athletes. The contract should have input from the JAAA, the athletes, the coaches and the general public. It should clearly state the terms and sanctions for violation of these terms. The contract will not be able to address every situation but I am sure that major issues can be resolved. The public will never have to hear "I did not know that from the athletes or the JAAA".
The following are some of the terms that should be set in the contract:
| 1. | Any athlete who tests positive for a banned substance will not represent Jamaica until they are cleared by the IAAF. |
| 2. | All athletes must report to the mandatory camp as stipulated by the JAAA. The JAAA will send each athlete a letter to the address provided by the athlete as to the time, date and location of the camp. If an athlete does not report to the camp they will be disqualified from participating in the athletic meet. |
| 3. | All athletes who represent Jamaica will be given heath insurance, starting from the time they have been selected to represent Jamaica until two months after the completion of the meet. |
| 4. | All athletes in a relay must practise how to get a baton and receive a baton. The JAAA must tell each athlete, in writing, 24 hours before a relay race, which leg on the relay they will run. |
| 5. | Each athlete who comes first, second or third in a final event at an international athletic meet will get the Jamaica flag and do a victory lap. (We are a small country with limited resources and if our athletes reach the final that is a great achievement). |
| 6. | Each athlete will be trained on how to do an interview immediately after they race. |
Business is business and athletics is our big business, so let us start acting like business people. I am, etc., MICHELLE SMITH Daniellecook47@yahoo.com
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