News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 24, 2012: 2012: Millions across the Caribbean and its Diaspora have cheered, danced and celebrated the successes of top Caribbean athletes like Usain Bolt, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Kerani James and Keshorn Walcott at the just concluded 30th Olympiad. But the struggle to the top has been no walk in the park for many now reaping the gold, and one Caribbean American activist is urging nationals to ensure they invest in their athletes and not simply cheer when they win.
Irwine Clare knows what it’s like to invest in Caribbean athletes. He’s been doing that with his small army of dedicated volunteers for the past 18 years at Team Jamaica Bickle, (TJB), which provides food, accommodation, transportation and support during the annual running of the Penn Relays.
And Clare has seen many athletes, including a younger Shelly Ann, Veronica and Usain, as well as Rosemary Whyte and Kenia Sinclair, pass through the TJB tent to partake of the “bickle” or Caribbean meals and other amenities provided at Penn annually, with dollars scraped together from a few sponsors and small donors.
So when the many Caribbean athletes shone in the August summer games in London, Clare and his TJB family were not simply cheering from the sidelines. They were filled with a deep satisfaction that the countless hours they had sacrificed as part of the relay squad of “cheerleaders” in 18 years was reaping huge dividends.
“We are not simply band wagonists in this arena but investors in our Caribbean athletes,” said Clare. “So to see so many now winning on world’s stage gives us joy as we can boost that 70 percent of Caribbean athletes have experienced TJB and those in the Diaspora who contributed, including sponsors over the years like Vincent Hosang, have reason to celebrate.”
The Jamaican-born, U.S.-based national says now is the time for other Caribbean nationals, groups and institutions to get involved in the process and help mould young athletes to keep up the winning tradition.
“Just imagine how many more Usain Bolts, Kerani James’ and Keshorn Walcotts we can be creating if we all invest and give a contribution to help these athletes when they seek to make their names on one of the biggest stage for high schoolers.
“The Penn Relays is a platform that can grant these kids U.S. scholarships and international recognition and match up their skill sets with others in their zones,” said Clare. “The economic sacrifice for them to get here is enormous to parents and only alumni’s, private individuals and groups like us help, not governments or governmental representatives.”
And so as the celebration continues in all sectors across the Caribbean for the many Olympians, with private sector donation and governmental accolades, the TJB head is urging all to remember the next crop of Olympians in training on tracks like the Penn Relays.
“Winning is the ultimate goal. When our Caribbean athletes win we all win but we as a community must be more appreciative and more willing to contribute and invest in them and those who are coming behind them,” added Clare.
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