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Following reports that a number of elite track and field athletes are set to switch their allegiances from Jamaica to Turkey, Member of Parliament and Olympian Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn has called for further questions into the role of Jamaica’s sports administrators.
According to Onder Ozbilen, a consultant with the Turkish Sports Ministry, Jamaica is set to lose the services of several of its elite field athletes.
These athletes include Olympic gold medallist and record holder Roje Stona, Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell and under-20 triple jump world record holder Jaydon Hibbert.
Cuthbert-Flynn took to social media where she said questions should be raised regarding the individuals who have been charged with leading Jamaica’s sports administrations.
“We have to really take stock and we need to take a look at how we run sports in Jamaica, how we see our athletes in Jamaica and how we value them,” Cuthbert-Flynn said.
“We say sports is a big business but is it a big business here? Do we look at it as a big business? Do we value the sport of track and field?”
She continued, “Is that the mindset of the people who are running the sports and should we look at the people who are running the sport and is it that they have the interest at heart for the athletes?”
In response to questions posed by The Gleaner regarding the comments made by Cuthbert-Flynn , Garth Gayle, president of the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association, maintained that the association is yet to receive any documents requesting a switch of allegiance for any of the athletes named in the report or any other athlete.
LONG-STANDING ISSUE
The State Minister in the Ministry of National Security drew on her experience as a former athlete who represented Jamaica at the 1984, 1988, 1992 and the 1996 Olympic Games.
Throughout her time on the track, she amassed eight international medals - three Olympic, four World Championships and an indoor World Championship medal.
She said Jamaican athletes in the field events have not received the same level of support as their sprinting counterparts, and explained it has been a long-standing issue even throughout her career.
“It is still an amateur sport. We still have the amateur status in track and field so I am not sure why we are surprised. When it comes to field events, it has always been the case where field events athletes have been paid less,” she said.
“Our athletes have been crying out for many, many years. I remember James [Beckford], our jumper back when I was competing back in the 1990s, it was just him and then others came after.”
Jamaican athletes switching their allegiance to represent other countries is not a new phenomenon, as several have done so in the past.
The list includes Shericka Williams, Kemarley Brown, Andrew Fisher, and Brandon Simpson who joined the ranks of Bahrain, along with Jak Ali Harvey, previously Jacques Harvey, who switched to Turkey in 2015.
Jamaican sprint icon, Merlene Ottey, also numbers the list of athletes as she switched allegiance to Slovenia in 2002.
FINDING THE SOLUTION
Cuthbert-Flynn said while it would be impossible to completely prevent athletes from choosing to represent other nations, it is important for Jamaica to retain as much talent as possible.
“I believe with this situation - which is not new - we have always had athletes who have left Jamaica and competed for other countries,” she said.
“I think we need to ask why. I think the why needs to be looked at to fix the problem or to make sure that it doesn’t happen as often because in this era of globalisation, I believe that it is always going to happen.
“Persons are going to grab opportunities, it is just that simple. But I believe looking at our issue, we need to look at a few things in Jamaica.”
Cuthbert-Flynn also called for the Jamaican track and field fans to not harass the athletes who are reported to have made the switch to represent Turkey.
She said more often than not, the athletes are ensuring they are able to make a living by leveraging their time in the sport.
“We can’t be upset with athletes who decide to make a decision, whether it’s a financial decision or whatever the decision is. They have to take stock and look at their own situation and what it is and how they feel.
“In track and field, some people will last 10 years, some people will last three years, some people will last five years and you have to look at that. How old am I? Where I am going? What am I trying to do in the sport?”
She added, “We shouldn’t bash our athletes. We should really look at our programme in Jamaica and ask ourselves, do we place the best people in the position to really run the sport and make it what is should be?”
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