JADCO PROVIDES STUDENT ATHLETES WITH SAMSUNG TABLETS

There is a famous African proverb that says, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” Sometimes it is the hard knocks in life that soften our rough edges and shape us into something more refined and resilient. The year 2020 has given us some hard knocks. It has been an extraordinary year for athletes and support personnel and we have had to become accustomed to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has found many opportunities in the midst of the pandemic and we have successfully transformed the way we carry out our daily functions. Not only have we put protocols in place to continue to test athletes in a safe environment that meets international standards, but we have also transformed our education programme significantly and we are now educating athletes and support personnel virtually.

We have no idea what lies ahead in the year 2021. But one thing is certain, despite the obstacles which we may face the Commission will remain committed to the fight against doping in sport, as we strive to be the premier world class anti-doping organisation. We encourage athletes and support personnel to stay focused and resilient as you strive to achieve your goals throughout 2021 and beyond and to continue to partner with us as we work assiduously to improve the National Anti-Doping Programme.

On Thursday, January 28, 2021the Commission will once again create history when we will host the seventh annual JADCO Symposium virtually. The event will be held using the Zoom meeting platform. On this occasion athlete support personnel will be given the opportunity to learn about the new World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) International Standards. We look forward to your participation at this event.

In this edition of the True Spirit newsletter we will tell you about JADCO’s efforts to provide Samsung tablets to student athletes and we will also provide an update on the Junior Athletes AntiDoping Education Workshops and Senior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshop, which were both held for the first time virtually during 2020. We will also share healthy eating tips for the New Year.

If you have queries or wish to share your feedback on this publication, send an email to truespirit@jadco.gov.jm.

The Hon. Olivia Grange (2nd left) Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, hands over Samsung tablet devices to Shayanique Neil (2nd right), student athlete, Guy’s Hill High School. Looking on are Oswald Williams (right), Chairman and Joan Davis (left), Principal, both of Guy’s Hill High School.

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) presented Guy’s Hill High School, Ensom City Primary School and Eltham Park Primary School with a total of 95 Samsung tablets at a Handover Ceremony which was held at the JADCO office located at 1 Ballater Avenue in Kingston on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Guy’s Hill High School was presented with 25 Samsung tablets for having the most participants online at the seventh annual Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshop for region one. The 2020 series of workshops were held virtually for the first time due to the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Region one includes secondary schools from Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas and St. Catherine. The workshops were held via Zoom for four regions across the island during the month of November.

The Honourable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport said, “The donation of Samsung tablets is part of a broader initiative that JADCO is now executing in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information as part of the public education and awareness thrust of the Commission and so JADCO will be introducing anti-doping as part of the primary school curriculum. Today it starts with two primary schools, Eltham Park Primary and Ensom City Primary.”

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of JADCO, Alexander Williams said, “The Commission preloaded anti-doping information to the devices because we believe that if athletes are armed with the requisite information pertaining to anti-doping from the primary and secondary school levels they will be well equipped to make informed decisions when they become senior and professional athletes.”

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Principal of Guy’s Hill High School, Joan Davis said,“We have many students at our school without a device and to get 25 Samsung tablets this afternoon will help us to bridge the gap that exists, so we are very grateful.”

Student athlete, Guy’s Hill High School, Shayanique Neil expressed her gratitude, “This event was inspiring, to see JADCO giving and helping others in this pandemic, which is a challenging time for students all over Jamaica, especially the ones who are in need of the devices to access online school. I would like to show gratitude and appreciation from my school to JADCO, we are grateful.” To aid in the facilitation of online learning and to promote anti-doping in schools, the Commission also presented Ensom City Primary and Eltham Park Primary Schools with 35 Samsung devices each as part of its outreach activities.

Acting Principal of Ensom City Primary School, Karlene Collins-Dawkins said, “This gesture is really overwhelming for me, because I recognise that I have some students who we have not been connecting with, so I am happy that at least 35 of them will now be able to connect and be in the main stream of things, so thanks again JADCO.”

Principal of Eltham Park Primary School,Conroy Griffiths said, “Receiving these 35 Samsung tablets will benefit our school tremendously as we will have 35 less students that are not being engaged meaningfully and this will go a far way in helping us.”

In the upcoming weeks, additional Samsung tablets will be presented to schools from the remaining regions, which includes region two, with schools from Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth, region three with schools from Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and sections of Trelawny and region four, which includes schools from St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland and sections of Trelawny.

Over 300 junior athletes and their support personnel from four regions across the island attended the virtual series of the 2020 Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshops.

JADCO hosted the inaugural Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshop for athletes and athlete support personnel at the Jamaica Conference Centre (JCC) on Wednesday, February 12, 2014. This workshop has been held annually since 2014.