The Mico looking to become sporting hub

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The Mico University College's President and Principal, Claude Packer is urging the country to take sports more seriously as there is great financial benefit to be derived. Jamaicans oftentimes engage in sports, as a mere means of recreation, but Packer believes we should copy other countries that have built their economies on the back of their citizens' sporting exploits.

"The country needs to view sports differently, besides the enjoyment side they need to see it as an investment, because it is creating wealth for a lot of countries," Packer said. "In the United States it is the NBA, in India it is cricket and in Australia as well. Somehow we seem to be extremely good in athletics, in particular the sprints," he added.

Packer believes Jamaica need to capitalise on the fact that we have emerged as being very good in athletics. The Mico has, under his leadership, started taking steps to offer its students a greater opportunity to explore their talent in not only track and field, but a vast array of other sporting disciplines.

"We have to begin to look at how we train our teachers to see if we can preserve this (achievements in athletics) and even do more in the future for Jamaica," Packer expressed. "So The Mico as a leading teachers' college has to begin to take on sports even more seriously and find a way to create a centre of excellence here, so we can attract talented people to not only nurture in terms of performance in sports, but also academics because both go hand-in-hand," he added.

The 175-year-old institution, which was upgraded to a university college in 2006, seeks to make life easier for its student athletes by offering them scholarships. Raymond 'KC' Graham was also taken onboard last year as sports director and charged with developing all areas of sports, with emphasis on athletics.

"I have just completed my first year and I want to continue what I have started, whereas despite The Mico being an academic university, the students are becoming more involved in physical activity; such as what happens at UWI, UTech and G.C. Foster," Graham said.

Graham has also embarked upon recruiting from high schools, such as Holmwood Technical, Manchester High and The Queen's School. He is hoping that their recruitment drive, coupled with the backing they are receiving from past students and corporate sponsors Supreme Ventures Limited, Sherwin Williams and Puma, which is looking at establishing a club at the institution, which will see them rivalling the other universities.

"Right now most of the athletes are staying back in Jamaica and everybody can't go to MVP or Racers, so with The Mico emerging this will provide good competition," Graham stated. "The collegiate competition each year is dominated by UTech, UWI and G.C. Foster, so with The Mico coming on board there will be greater competition and it will also be good for the athletes leaving high school as they will have more options," he added.