World Athletics pledges US$100,000 to Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica:

World Athletics (WA) President Lord Sebastian Coe announced a US$100,000 (approximately J$16 million) donation to aid local track and field members impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement was made during a media briefing at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) headquarters in Kingston on Tuesday.

The funds, to be disbursed through the International Athletics Foundation, are earmarked for recovery pathways and support programmes specifically for athletes, coaches, and officials affected by the recent storm.

"We can recruit external teams and agencies to come to the table to help," stated Coe. "And I'm delighted to be able to announce this morning that we will make available $100,000 to help with those pathways and those programmes."

Coe, who is marking his 10th year as head of the sport's global governing body, outlined a dual approach to supporting Jamaica's recovery.

CHARITY 5K

Beyond the immediate financial grant, he revealed plans for a charity 5K run in Kingston this April, organised in collaboration with Mayor Andrew Swaby.

Coe will serve as the event's patron, with all proceeds directed toward broader hurricane relief efforts.

The WA president's two-day visit included high-level meetings with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding, emphasising the non-partisan nature of the relief initiative.

He also engaged with various stakeholder groups and took time to visit track programmes at Jamaica College and Excelsior High School.

- CMC