Velocity Fest success could lead to sponsorship in 2021

With the Velocity Fest series completed, MVP track club president Bruce James believes that the ability to have top-level performances will position the club to attract sponsorship to grow the event in 2021.

The series was among the list of local track and field events that took place this year as part of the restart of athletics in the island. The athletics season has been hampered because of the coronavirus pandemic which caused a shutdown on sporting events in March and got approval to return in July with strict health protocols and no fans in attendance.

The series was organised without sponsors as a trade off in allowing the athletes an opportunity to compete in some capacity this season. However, he says that the quality of the results on display for the past weeks puts them in good stead for more financial support next year.

"The fact that we were able to put together events that could produce world top 10 performances, we believe that the real savvy corporate sponsors will come on board in support of Velocity Fest," James told STAR Sports.

Stand out performances

Among the stand out performances of the series were world-leading 100m times of 10.87 and 10.88, respectively, by four-time World 100m champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce and double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah at the meet on August 8.

James said that the involvement of the Sports Development Foundation as well as Independence Park Limited was key in allowing the events to be staged. It was among the first events to be held at the National Stadium since the outbreak.

Although meets have taken place on the European circuit this year with COVID-19 protocols in place, Jamaican athletes were unable to participate. Thompson Herah was booked to compete in the Diamond League season opener in Monaco on August 14 but ended up not participating.

However, James believes that competing internationally on the circuit in 2021 is a possibility once it is safe to do so.

"We believe that there will be opportunities to travel. Once those present themselves we will take advantage of it," he said. " [But] The message is always the same: Take care of the athletes, take care of the coaches and take care of the officials."