Team Jamaica Bickle to mount challenge with NY-based outfit

NEW YORK (USA):

A team ofNew York-based athletes representing the Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) will be participating at the UWI Invitational.

The team of nine athletes and a contingent of parents and officials have made the trip, which is TJB's third in three years, to compete in track meets on the island.

"We are once again excited to facilitate this trip," said Irwine Clare, executive director of TJB. "It represents for us incremental steps to a larger vision, as we get our overseas athletes connected to local meets. We hope to expand the programme in the future."

He added: "For our athletes it is exciting as they get the chance to compete against their counterparts on the island."

Meanwhile their coach, Sean Phillips, said: "We hope to continue to bring athletes from all over the United States," he said. "Many of them will be visiting the island for the first time. The benefits to the island are invaluable as these athletes and the parents who travel with them are ambassadors. A good experience for them will bring a positive outcome as we continue to build the Jamaica brand."

Courtesy calls

Clare says his team members Bob DeSouza and Oswald Hancelwere in Jamaica recently for a round of presentations and courtesy calls, ahead of the annual Penn Relays, for which TJB generally gets support for local teams that participate.

The team met with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, members of the business community and the public sector; and also presented a cheque for US$7,500 to the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, to assist in the development of its athletics programme.

Allen pledged support for TJB efforts, especially its initiative to establish the TJB Foundation - a relationship which fits into the governor general's various initiatives focusing on the youth of the nation.