JAGA conducts judging course

International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Expert Educator Helen Laliberte recently conducted a four-day Women’s Artistics Gymnastics introductory judging course in the island.

The workshop was accredited by the Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU), where Laliberte formerly served as president.

Twenty-two persons registered and started the course but only 17 persons completed it because of its difficulty.

Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association (JAGA) says that the Caribbean has what it describes as a ‘major’ lack of FIG accredited judges. The Association says, as a result, it spends at least US$1,000 (just under J$140,000) each time it participates in an international PAGU or FIG meet.

For this reason, JAGA president Nicole Grant says such courses are what she describes as a “wonderful opportunity” to open doors for more interests to participate in gymnastics and create a wider pool of personnel involved in the sport.

“We are truly grateful that though we did not fit the requirements of having eight countries participating in the course, the PAGU still assisted us financially and accredited the course. A special thanks to the JOA (Jamaica Olympic Association) for stepping in at the last minute to enable and facilitate this level of learning, which will definitely help us to achieve our goals of educating more officials locally in the next two years”

The course, which was sponsored by PAGU, the JOA, and JAGA, is the third and final leg in the Caribbean as the first two were previously done in St Vincent and the Grenadines.