Jamaica's Kerr seeks corporate support

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica was re-established on the world map in February of this year when the island achieved the distinction of having the ninth fastest skier in the world.

Errol Kerr finished ninth overall in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the best placing by a Caribbean athlete at any Winter Olympics. Kerr featured in the ski cross event which was held at the Games for the first time.

Kerr is, however, not content with his success to date and has his sights set on striking gold at the 2014 Winter Games in Russia. His journey to the next Olympic Games will be dubbed 'from Ochi to Sochi'.

For his dream to become a reality, Kerr needs financial support, as preparations for the games is a costly venture.

"In order to be the best in the world we have to get the budget so we can add some more people to the team here and get us to the top," Kerr pointed out while speaking at a private reception held in his honour by Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Olivia Grange at The Jamaica Pegasus, Negril Suite, Thursday night.

"In order to do it good and proper it would take US$150,000 a year. We have to all come together, and with a little bit from here and a little bit from there we can make it happen."

Honouring his dad

The 23-year-old, who was born in the United States (US), has dual citizenship and was, in fact, a member of the US ski team before opting to honour his father and represent the country of his birth. He has already commenced preparations for 2014.

"As far as myself preparing, it is coming along good, it is just funding," Kerr cited. "We are trying to get together a package that is attractive to the right sponsors and to the right people ... obviously, in this economy and with such a small island, we can't just walk up and say we want this amount of money today in order to go do this," he added.

Minister Grange is aware that Kerr needs financial support, and though her ministry is not able to come to his aid directly, she is trying to solicit support from corporate Jamaica.

"It has been very difficult for Errol (Kerr), it has been difficult for his coach but he has made Jamaica proud," Grange declared. "Jamaica has the ninth fastest ski crosser in the world and we don't have snow, so that is worth partnering with the private sector to see how we can really give him the support he needs so he can medal," she added.

Kerr wants Jamaicans to be able to relate to his sport and believes the best way to go about doing so is to introduce the similar sport of BMX to the island.

Kerr said: "I would love to bring that sport here to the island in a big way. We need to put in a racetrack because it is a full medal sport at the summer games. Any boy here can pick up a single-speed bicycle and start riding his bicycle at that track every day and become an Olympic gold medallist."