Asafa Powell's Message is the unvarnished Truth.

"Honestly, guys, if the support system doesn’t change, my kids not running for Jamaica. I’m sorry to say that …but it’s just facts. My wife is Canadian and Ghanaian, so there are options. Back in 2006, early in my career, I was offered millions of US dollars to compete for another country, a deal which I turned down out of national pride and hope for a better future with Jamaica. I didn’t know what the future held, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have taken up that opportunity," Asafa Powell declared.

Powell did not hold back in voicing his long-standing concerns about the lack of proper backing for Jamaican athletes, an issue many local stars have echoed for years, even as the country has dominated global sprinting. These comments from Asafa have reopened the conversation around athlete welfare, infrastructure, and long-term support in Jamaican track and field, which has produced some of the most decorated sprinters in history of the Sport. Does Jamaica do enough for its Athletes?

There has been mixed reaction to Asafa Powell's recent comments with some even deeming him as unpatriotic. But is Powell wrong with his claim that there is need for changes in how the Sport is administered? Isnt there truth to his central argument that Jamaica has consistently failed to develop meaningful long-term systems to support athletes once they reach or even pass their peak?

The fact is that Jamaica’s political and sporting leadership and citizens as well, have never embraced sports as a viable economic engine, an argument that can easily be made for our treatment of the island's Culture, especially Jamaica's music. Track & Field which mirrors the island’s Sporting excellence is treated more like national spectacle - a Carnival-esque offering that disappears when the lights go down, and this all starts with the monumentally commercially successful ISSA Champs, which has become both a blessing and a curse. ISSA Champs Success-Mixed results Every year, approximately 3,600 student athletes steps up to the line to represents their schools in the now 5 day ISSA Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. Of this number, less than 500 contributes a single point to their respective schools. Of the 500, perhaps 80 will be selected to do National duties at the Junior level.

Of that eighty or so, less than 30 of them will make it into the National Senior athletics programme, where there are less than a dozen "standouts" generally.

Taken as a "Collective," Champs which costs the country in excess of Ja.,$3 billion annually, is not the most viable of enterprises when viewed from this perspective, granted that more than two thirds of the Ja$3 billion invested comes from the collective of Alumni associations at home and in the Diaspora.

Having said that however, there are in fact some invisible benefits that append a growing number of the participants including combined athletic/academic scholarships which contribute to the personal development of a number of these youngsters who never makes it into the National spotlight as athletes. Sports as a Career option

The average athlete has a basic five to six year lifespan. Athletes who continue for 10 and 15 years like Shelly-Ann, Usain, Veronica etc., are outliers and should never be used as examples of success. Unfortunately, Jamaica's programme is littered with outliers and so we make reference to them quite liberally. In fact, it is this preponderance of outliers and the medias publicization of their success that drives so many of our youngsters towards Sport as a career and economic option rather than make any personal investment in their individual academic development. Political PR vs the absence of Policy The proliferation of Social Media's and its ability to propel the Champs spectacle around the world does not help. The 15 seconds of fame highlights that this provides, is great for the political masters who handcuffs this to their public relations roster. Make no mistake, our politicians are great at PR and at dazzling with shiny trinkets while at the same time they are also consistently good at failing to provide policy framework that looks at the long-term.

Putting the emotions aside, it is a fact is that there is great disparity in support systems for track and field athletes between developed nations and Jamaica, and this is a well-documented issue. Furthermore, Asafa Powell isn’t the only person to have spoken out on this. So too has “super coach” Glen Mills as well as former track athlete Dr. Gregory Haughton, Merlene Ottey, Yohan Blake, and others of even less repute. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences and the "system" Jamaican athletes are advocating for :

1. Funding and Financial Support

Developed Countries: Nations like the U.S., U.K., and Germany provide substantial funding through government grants, national sports federations, and private sponsorships. For example, the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Track & Field offer stipends, training grants, and performance bonuses.
Jamaica: Athletes rely heavily on personal sponsorships, prize money, and grassroots support. Powell revealed he turned down "millions" to represent another country early in his career, highlighting the lack of financial security in Jamaica’s system.

2. Technical and Infrastructure Support

Developed Countries: State-of-the-art training facilities, sports science programs, and access to elite coaches are standard. The USDA Community Facilities Grant Program in the U.S., for instance, funds sports infrastructure in rural areas.
Jamaica: While the island produces world-class talent, facilities like the MVP Track & Field Club (where Powell trained) are often privately funded. Public infrastructure, such as tracks and gyms, lags behind

3. Welfare and Post-Career Planning

Developed Countries: Comprehensive healthcare, pension plans, and career transition programs (e.g., Germany’s "Elite Sports of the Armed Forces") ensure athletes’ long-term stability
Jamaica: Retired athletes frequently face financial struggles. Powell criticized the lack of post-retirement support, noting many end up in "9-to-5 jobs" after their careers. There are instances of destitution where former athletes end up living on the streets.

4. The "System" Jamaican Athletes Demand includes:

Structured Funding: Government-backed financial incentives, akin to the USDA grants, to cover training, travel, and living costs.
Professional Management: Contracts with guaranteed salaries, as seen in European athletics federations, rather than reliance on ad-hoc sponsorships.
Athlete Welfare Programs: Retirement plans, healthcare, and educational opportunities to ease post-career transitions.
Grassroots Development: Investment in youth programs and facilities to sustain Jamaica’s sprinting dominance.

5. Cultural and Structural Challenges

Jamaica’s success stems from raw talent and a competitive school sports culture (e.g., ISSA Championships), but systemic issues—like bureaucratic inefficiencies and limited corporate sponsorship—hinder professionalization. Powell’s warning that his children may not represent Jamaica underscores the urgency for reform.

I am satisfied that while sacrifices are universal, the gap lies in institutionalized support. Jamaica’s athletes are merely seeking a sustainable ecosystem mirroring developed nations—one that values their contributions beyond the track.