Aris lauds all-inspiring Ja athletes
Published:Saturday | August 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
DAEGU, South Korea:Quite like Arthur Wint and Donald Quarrie before them, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Howard Aris believes that Jamaica's current crop of track and field stars, led by Usain Bolt, will inspire generations of aspiring Jamaicans to come, with their impressive performances on the track.
Aris, who made reference to the patriarchal figure of Jamaica's first Olympic gold medallist Wint, and McKenley, who inspired the likes of another iconic athlete in McKenley and 1976 Olympic 200m gold medallist Donald Quarrie, who encouraged a person such as Merlene Ottey to greatness, is expecting the same type of ripple effect.
In the same vein Aris, who has been at the helm of the JAAA since 2004, is positive that the exploits of the 'Class of 2008', which dominated the world and cemented Jamaica's reputation as the undisputed 'sprint capital of the world' at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, has been inspiring and will moti-vate Jamaicans for years to come.
"Some years ago, our great athlete Herb McKenley said that when he saw Arthur Wint in the Jamaica uniform he said to himself that he would want to be like him," Aris said. "Merlene Ottey also said in her book, and on many interviews, that when she saw Donald Quarrie in Montreal in 1976 winning the gold medal in the 200m she was inspired to do the same; and I am quite sure now that Usain and all these other amazing athletes that we have will become further sources of inspiration to all aspiring Jamaican athletes for years to come.
"We have been extremely successful in the sport, but after Beijing it has been taken to a whole new level," Aris added, during his presentation to media representatives at a joint JAAA/Puma press conference on Thursday.
The press conference, which attracted some 350 media personnel from all over the world, was the most anticipated in Daegu, underlining the Jamaicans' billing as the most popular team here.
However, it was the support of those back home that Aris was most thankful for.
Aris took time out to pay homage to the Jamaican people, Government and private sector, whom he thanked for their support over the years.
"One of the things that we take pride in the association is the fact that track and field has become a solid part of our culture," Aris said.
"Success attracts support and, therefore, one would believe that because we have been successful the country on a whole, in terms of the various government agencies, the people and sponsors, have been able to identify with us and have always offered their support," he added.
The Jamaicans will be looking to match or better the 13 medals they won at the last championships, two years ago in Berlin, Germany, throughout the meet, which begins today and ends on September 4.
- A.L.