"Revolutionizing Track and Field: The Jamaica International Youth Relays Proposal"
- Yaawd Media
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Jamaica has been attending the Annual Penn Relays at Franklin Field, PA for more than 60 years. Their participation provides a significant economic boon for the Franklin field community, with little benefit beyond medals and trophies for the athletes and a dent in the pockets of the hundreds of Jamaican school-age athletes and coaches, as well as the thousands of Jamaicans who attend the Relay Carnival as spectators. Jamaica's global reputation as a Track & Field giant makes their participation the biggest economic drawing card for Franklin field. It is this reputation that has led former American Track-hero Michael Johnson to kick off his Grand Slam Track series in Kingston Jamaica this past weekend. The success of the event (streamed to a reported 180 countries worldwide) has led me to revisit the question of how could Jamaica capitalize on its well-earned reputation as a Track & Field powerhouse and host its own School-age Relay Carnival instead of making huge financial sacrifices to come to the US for which little benefit accrues to participating athletes. I have taken the liberty to put together a proposal for establishing a Jamaica International Relay Carnival.
1. Establish a “Jamaica International Youth Relays”
Create a flagship relay carnival for school-age athletes modeled on the Penn Relays but with a distinct Jamaican flavor, attracting local and international schools. Held at the National Stadium in Kingston. This could be positioned as a springboard for future Olympians.
Invite high schools from the Caribbean, U.S., Canada, and the UK.
Integrate a scholarship fair and training workshops by top Jamaican and global coaches.
Include U15, U17, U20 categories to broaden participation.
2. Leverage Sponsorship and Broadcasting Rights
Jamaica’s brand in track is gold. With smart partnerships:
Secure backing from GraceKennedy, Digicel, Sagicor, and Puma, who already support Jamaican athletics as well as Jamaica Money Market Brokers, Barita Investments, Victoria Mutual, Jet Blue, Caribbean Airlines.
Negotiate broadcast rights with SportsMax, Flow Sports, ESPN Caribbean, or even NBC Sports (which already covers Penn Relays).
Use live streaming for global reach and monetization.
3. Encourage Sports Tourism
Position the event as both a cultural and athletic spectacle, offering travel packages that include:
Entry to the meet
Tours of Jamaican landmarks (Bob Marley Museum, Blue Mountains, etc.)
Cultural experiences (music, food, beach trips)
This approach invites diaspora families, college scouts, and athletics enthusiasts to Jamaica, reversing the cash flow currently going to Philly.
4. Build Partnerships with U.S. and Caribbean Schools
Rather than simply competing at Penn, create a reciprocal relationship:
Partner with U.S. high schools and clubs to send teams to Jamaica.
Offer incentives (hospitality, discounted accommodation, etc.).
Position the event as an elite exposure opportunity for international youth athletes.
5. Prioritize Athlete Welfare and Development
Ensure the meet supports Jamaican athletes beyond medals:
Include college scout showcases, testing combines, and recruiter networking.
Award scholarships or bursaries to outstanding performers.
Provide educational seminars (nutrition, mental health, injury prevention).
6. Push the Brand: “Home of the Sprint Legends”
Build a powerful narrative around Jamaica being the birthplace of Wint, Rhoden, Ottey, Bolt, Asafa, Fraser-Pryce, Blake, Veronica Campbell, Elaine Thompson-Herah, etc. This mystique draws international interest and enhances the value of competing on Jamaican soil.
Final Thoughts:
Jamaica doesn’t just send athletes to world stages; it has been creating these world-beating athletes for the past 77 years. Instead of simply exporting talent and dollars to Franklin Field, Jamaica has proven that it can harness its athletic prowess, cultural capital, and global influence to create a world-class event at home that benefits its youth, economy, and international profile. It is this realization that brought Grand Slam Track to the island over the past weekend- Athlete and spectator feedback has indicated that the three-day event has so far proven to be highly successful. What are your thoughts on the above?
Thanks for your input. The above was a basic draft which deliberately only touched on the core issue of the Sporting Event. A much more fulsome proposal is already in place which provide greater detail as well as a number of the pointers that you have raised. Thanks nevertheless for your input. I will endeavor to review, bearing the areas you have identified in mind.
Your proposal for establishing the Jamaica International Relay Carnival is well thought out and strategically aimed at capitalizing on Jamaica's track and field prowess, economic potential, and global reputation. The vision is clear, and the concept addresses multiple facets: athletics, sports tourism, international exposure, and youth development. However, here are a few additional considerations and aspects to ensure the success of the event:
1. Event Infrastructure & Logistics
Venue Preparation: The National Stadium in Kingston, an iconic venue, will need to be prepared not only for the athletic competition but also to handle the large influx of international athletes, coaches, and spectators. Ensuring the stadium has the necessary infrastructure—such as seating, media facilities, and efficient transportation and security—will be key.
Security Measures…