Sanya Richards of USA celebrates after winning the women's 400m at the Weltklasse Golden League athletics meeting in the new Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Mark Matthews/Allsports/SPK)
The Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) is being flooded with requests by athletes looking to participate at this year’s Jamaica International Invitational track and field meeting.
The budget for the annual meet had been increased by almost eight million – moving from $54m last year to $61.9m this year; and the cost of ticket prices for the bleachers section of the National Stadium has been slashed by 40 per cent from $500 to $300.
Howard Aris, president of the JAAA disclosed the main details at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Kingston yesterday, where updates were given on the event that will take place on Saturday, May 1.
“The phone has been ringing, Donald Quarrie (athletes’ liaison officer) and myself have been receiving lots of telephone calls and emails have been coming in,” Aris said in reference to athletes seeking a lane at the meet.
In the past, the likes of Americans Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon and Sanya Richards have all travelled to compete at the meeting….Read More
To report corrections, additions and clarifications, please shoot an email to our editor Lorraine Cummings.
Man, I clicked on this story…Big Names Seeking Invites to Jamaica Invitational, and as soon as it open, Sanya Richards picture just jumped out on me….A frighten u c… man i was so furious…it just spoiled my whole dam day…what happened…they couldn’t find someone else’s picture to post up with our article? If it was even Mr, Carl Lewis’s picture, i wouldn,t have felt that furious…for at least he,s not a traitor.
Honestly!! I don’t think you should call her a traitor..she just made a decision to represent the country that she has lived for the latter stages of her life, an where she settle permanently. She still has a close relationship with Jamaican and assist in many community developing programme and such ye…She kool man big up u self Sanya
If every Jamaican in the Diaspora were to return home, there would not be enough accommodation available. I can understand the frustration in seeing one of our own dominate the tracks for another country, but she has made a personal choice which we should respect even if we can’t accept it. Additionally, she has not forgotten her roots and continue to play a role in promoting her country of birth. Let us adopt a more pragmatic stance in dealing with these issues. The last time I checked, remittances from overseas was rivaling revenue earned from tourism. In other words, there is some advantage to Jamaica with some of its nationals living abroad and not turning their backs on the “likkle Rock”.
Adam, meny of our athletes live in the usa…meny of them were approached and offered ” The Amazing Opportunity “the same kind that she Sanya Richards was offered… to represent the usa…but they say no….representing there homeland,{weh dem nable string cut} would be more of an amazing opportunity to them…regardless of were they might be living and for how long…Adam…she,s a big sell out and she,s getting the sellout treatment from both sides…do you really think the usa fans adores and appreciates her, as much as how we adores and appreciates our athletes? Sure she still has a close relationship with jamaica..{or so it seems} and assist in community development programs…but you and i know that that is just to cover up the every day guilt that haunts even in her sleep…yes Adam, we are doing quite well without her…but there,s no doubt in my mind, that we {jamaica} could have done much better with her…for every time she beat our jamaican athletes…it takes away from the country that she was born, to the country were she lives…so please Adam….you must understand…not every Jamaican is going to appreciate that…and i happened to be one of them…I sincerely appreciate your comments Adam…continue to write…oh by the way Adam….do you know this poem..PATRIOTISM, BY SIR WALTER SCOTT…it,s very interesting…i think you should look it up and read it.
I have to respectfully agree with Tony. Sanya moved to The US at the age of 12 she was a natural in track and field, her talent was refined while growing up in America. I have no Anamosity towards her, regarding her decision to represent th USA. It makes a lot of sense to me from a business stand-point, especially considering the fact that she has been representing the USA since high school. I have a question for any takers. What is the likelyhood of a Jamaican born child that attends highschool in the USA, how likely is it that such a student could represent the Jamaican flag at the IAAF world junior championships. I don’t think Sanya turned her back on her country I think her life’s path lead her in that direction. sanya is still very active in giving back to young Jamaican highschool students she is spearheading a movement to combat illiteracy jamaican highschools. A movement that has raised well over a thousand US dollars in the past year alone. she deserves more respect than what she is getting. Please forgive me if their are any type-o’s. just getting in from work and very tired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch
Watch the documentary: Home.
I understand Tonya,and ye i did read the poem….well I wish she had represent her country Jamaica yes,,,and alot of what you said Tony is true…seeing that im only 16 I think you should be more wiser..but i still believe that she regret the decision she made to represent the USA, and I wish she was apart of that 400m Relay team and such, but so is life ye…well i have to get ready for school now Monroe College to d worlll!!
BunnyG your link only brings me to the youtube homepage. What documentary?
Yes, i do respect the fact that she,s giving back to jamaica…that is very commendable….but in my humble opinion {“i might be wrong} i think your first choice of representation should be your born land….again, yes, she deserved some respect for her project that she,s putting on in our country…but that can also be a diplomatic move to gain some sympathy and respect from the fuming jamaicans who share my views….i don,t know why…but i can,t seems to kick that notion….we should also be aware that, diplomacy, in some sort of way, is like Ambiguity….you can say…it is this…when in fact.. it is that….question…how do you really think our jamaican athletes feel, when Sanya Richards kicked there butt at the world games and then becomes the special guess and guess speaker at there annual sports award ceremony…is like rubbing salt in a fresh wound…wouldn,t you say? no wonder why they were about to boycott it{The award ceremony} i can just imagine how novlene and sherika must have felt…remember this…when a child migrates to the usa, at whatever age…1, 2, 3…pick a age…and is there for literally all there life and that’s the only place on earth they know…and should happened to get into trouble…do you know what they do with that person…send them back to were they were born…the poor souls most of the time, don,t even know were he or she is going…..that i think goes to show you….that your country of birth should always be your first choice to represent….if that fails, for whatever reason…then you move on to next choice.
i couldnt have said it better that is why i have nothing but respect for persons who are very loyal to this country persons who migrate and visit often and remember their roots even some persons who post on this very website who have given the impression that they live abroad im going to call them out i hope they dont mind waynef, cvivenne big up those are the ones that i do know of ther may b others that im not aware of they havent forgotten their roots. tony roots i feel the same way about her also did you remeber this quartermiler name andrea thomas she was in the same situation as sonya and she has represented jamaica on both the junior and senior level namely carifta games and has represented jamaica on the senior level so please any1 who think sonya was 2 young to b patriotic i dont buy it
Everyone, but especially Adam, watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ8BRGQfV0Y&feature=related
Tell me if you can watch that and not feel pride and not realize why Sanya can be viewed as a traitor and the mixed message that she is sending to youth of Jamaica.
Ye..stacy,, I watch it man…and i did feel pride and joy, I honestly must say that Sanya had the opportunity to chose to represent Jam, and it was not as mandatory as i thought..that she had no other choice but to represent USA..well i bet she feels remorse about that decision dont it..but dat is her conscience..Jamaica still pan top..hope one day I can represent dem at the olympics myself..workin on Boys Champs rite now ..Monroe College mi seh!!
Good Adam, I’m glad.
I want to point out that it’s a free country and everyone is entitled to make their own decisions and allegiances. But I think if Sanya was really interested in Jamaica, it’s development and her influence on young people, she could take a leaf from Asafa, SAF, Usain etc, who are showing the young people that not only do you not compete for another country to be successful, you don’t even have to move abroad and train with another country’s coach.
And it’s not just the athletes who stay at home who will go on to influence others. It’s the coaches, the physical therapists, the nutritionists, the sports doctors who then stay and help the industry. It has a synergistic and ripple effect and I respect them all the more for it.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT MINNIE. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT LIVING IN JAMAICA, I LIVE AND BREATHE THE CULTURE. I AM A JAMAICAN THATS WHO I AM. I WILL DEFEND THAT FIERCELY WITH MY LIFE IF NEEDS BE. JUST LAST WEEK I READ THAT PATRICK EWING’S SON WANTS TO PLAY BASKETBALL FOR HIS FATHER’S COUNTRY. HE DOSNT HAVE TO DO THAT, HE IS A YANKEE BUT THE STRONG JAMAICAN BLOOD IS FLOWING THROUGH HIS VEINS AND HE WANTS TO IDENTIFY WITH HIS ROOTS, HOW HONOURABLE IS THAT? I AM NOT IMPRESSED BY SANYA’S ASSISTANCE TO JA , SHE JUST DOING IT FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS I FIND VERY PATRONIZING .
very well put.
The name of the doc is “home”
Type in “home”. It a state of the planet documentary. Like a National Geographic film. It is very good. Narrated by a woman.
I would just like to point out and say congratulations to Mr Bolt for winning another Laureus Sportsman of the Year award. Yeah!!
I’m not sure that after Serena Williams threw that temper tantrum if she deserved to win Sportswoman of the year but oh well, congratulations to her as well.
Stacy,Thanks for the youtube clippings…i have watch it and i,m saying to you…that that was a classic example of how one sells there country….but some people cant seems to Differentiate, Selling there Country from Celling OUT there country….Cvivenne…what you just mention about Patrick Ewing….i may have drawn them out with some serious comment that i have made a couple of months ago on another site, about the jamaica basketball program…and how it starting to take shape…..and if he Patrick Ewing is not onboard…should do so now…because with his name, influence and knowledge, the jamaica basketball program could go a far way….big up mi little soldier Adam…and i wish you great success on the track…in the Classroom…and in life itself.
Usain Bolt…dem a go tyad fi si u face…dem ca get u outa di race…so dem a grah bad caad…MJ a grah bad caad…boy patois word dem hard fi spell u no man. PLEASE DON,T LAUGH.
okay Bunny, I have already seen that one. thought you were referiong to some other type of Documentary. Glad to see you have a passionate love for our planet as do I. It is a very note worthy Documentary to saY THE LEAST.
Yea congrats to bolt no lie!!..and I must had nuff respect to the Jamaicans who no matter where dem go represent jamaica all d time…just the other day december i was in florida in one of the walmart stores..i was standing at the front waiting on my mom..when i hear a man voice talking to his son ” i caw find nun a dem tingz deh weh u seh u want enuh bad man..u afi guh sekkle fi di cornflakes” i couldnt resist askin him if he was jamaican ..and no suprise he was..what im saying his we need to represent jamaican no matter where or what..when I get the chance to run in the jamaican colours it brings me great pride and joy..sadly i didnt make the carifta team this year but im yung and hope for better days ..but until all the best to the jamaican team ova dere in DOHA!! a mad ting
Tony Roots set off a fire storm over SR headline. I say we win some and lose some.
THAT,S TRUE BUNNY GENERAL.
young man iv always watched u represent munroe & cheered 4u im glad uv taken the fact that u didnt make the carifta team with such resolve & wish u the best next year may u continue 2 grow from strength 2 strength my stepson couldnt make the team 4 calabar this year because he opted 2 focus on his studies. i will b watching u next year and continue 2 stay focused
bunny because he vocalised what others are thinking i know you sentiments on her but 2b honest few persons share that sentiment but its all good
http://WWW.WCSN.COM
If you are looking for live feed or replay of Doha
Ye minz…thanks much
Adam no medals for you this Champs you just a try hype up and you not ready fe the thing yet
Straight C-Bar me seh Adam Cumming your victory was just a hpye at the moment what have you done since
Guys we should not get over-emotional about Sanya repping the USA. As a matter of fact I didnot hear people calling out Ben Johnson, Christie or Bailey in their time. All of those guys migrated when they were just as young as Sanya. I think Ben migrated when he was 14 and Christie 12. And remember Sanya is not the only Jamaica right now repping the USA. What about Debbie Dunn? Is it because she is not winning we are quiet about her? Jerome Taylor was a jamaican who represent the USA back then on the 4×4 relay team and we know what happen to him. Cydonine Mothersill represent the Cayman Island and nobody is hollering about her. I am not hearing the Trinis complaining about Kerrron Clement. which I beleive he makes a huge mistake. The government of Trinidad
has a special fund for elite athlete which is more lucrative than USTAF grants and dont mention the diplomatic passport, naming of staium and highways etc. Would you beleive that in Trinidad by just making the team you are guaranteed 40000 US/ year plus other incentive. That was the reason Ato boldon didnot switch. He milk that shit over the years. It can go both ways also. Felix sanchez was born in New york , but he rep the DR because it was more lucrative for him to do so . He is worshipped in the DR. Unlike the kenyans who sell themselves
to Quatar and Bahrain for 30pcs of silver. Remember when Marion Jones “won” the races in Sidney she was Repping Belize along with the USA. It all depends on your finacial situation and also where your patriotism lies.Dont blame Sanya blame her parents.
i will b rooting 4 cummings even though my allegiance is with c-bar and jc where my kids attend i love munroe college i defn hope he medals this year as well he seems 2b a conscious youth. bayreuth you know why we havent called them out is that these guys make no bones about their ties with jamaica you know what was sweet after they caught ben johnson and every1 was saying oh hes jamaican and disassociating him with canada when bailey won the gold and every1 was like bigging him up for canada he made it clear and said look im a jamaican running for canada that was awesome because he realised & remembered how canada treated ben. ato boldon i think ran for trinidad because at the time the us was infested with drug sharks so it wouldv been 2 difficult to make the us team i think his decision had nothing to do with any incentive because this guy loves to associate with the us he has no allegiance to the caribbean.
i could go on verbatim about the different athletes and their motives for representing their country but i think it is safe to say that their motives are their loyalty & love for their country & has nothing to do with any financial incentive with the exception of ato boldon who i think worships america & would disown his heritage with the drop of a hat if he could he has not loyalty to to caribbean.
i dont know if you remember andrea thomas who was even younger than sanya and in the same situation and she represented jamaica at carifta games and on a senior level as well. why persons have so much contempt for sanya is that she loves to talk about “the jamaicans” as if she isnt jamaican also. any you may be right about debbie dunn i didnt even know she was jamaican i could care less. this alo brings me to thepoint of sandra farmer patrick she decided to represent the us & when she didnt make their team she decided to run come back to jamaica to try and make our team because of her duality good sense prevailed and the jaaa would not have it and it wasnt as if we had any hurdlers at the time so it wouldv been nice to have one on our team and i think we were please about that decision because she made us a last resort so i was glad everytime she did not have a gold medal.
MINNIE, YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY!! AS USUAL.
Mininie , you shed some important points. Yes, I knew about Farmer-Patrick story but I am not familiar with the Issue with Andrea Thomas. Yes you are right the Canadians literally disown Ben after the incident and reminded us constantly that he was Jamaican-borned and consider the fact that we know now that the 1988 finals was one of the most doped up finals. Five out of the 8 finalists were implicated for PED before and after the games in their carreers. That race was so doped up that Raymond Stewart who came last said that he was the only clean athlete and should have gotten the medal. I was unaware of the positive comment made by Danovan and for that I said more power to him. Jamaica not only put Canada on the sprinting map because of our export but the 1996 olympic 4×100 canadian realy team was made up of all caribbean immmigrants, 2 jamaicans ( Bailey and roberst) , 1 Hiatian( Bruny Surin) and I Trini ( Glenroy Gilbert) . Yes I agree with you about Ato “yankee mentality” but I only brought him up to explain the adoration and financial rewards he reaped from his home country notwithstanding the fact he preffered to wave a John Smith HSI flag over a Trinidardian flag…talk about having your cake and eat it. He was named a senator, Ambassador(sport at-large), Higway named after him . In his oppurtunistic way he knows that by repping the USA all those national prestige he received in Trinidad was not possible in the USA even if he was number one. I am going to play devil,s advocate and say Sanya’s “the Jamaicans comment” was her way of saying to her american fans and USA sponsors that he loyalty is 100% team USA.
But Bay reuth, that is exactly the point. Her total loyalty and allegiance is to the USA. Debbie Dunn migrated when she was very young and I have yet to see her say anything about Jamaica. In a way, a respect her more than I ever will Sanya. Sanya is always flying to Jamaica pretending she is still one with the people, and as soon as there is a US microphone in front of her it’s all an us vs them mentality. I don’t really see that two-faced attitude with any other athlete. e.g. I am upset that Germaine Mason still trains with Stephen Francis but chooses to compete for GB especially since we are so lacking in good caliber high jumpers. But, that guy is always talking about his love for the country and his kinsmen etc. There is no hypocrisy on his part. Nor is it on the part of Debbie Dunn. Her allegience is with (and has always been with) the US. She doesn’t fly to Jamaica on a regular basis to pretend love and respect for the country or the people and then make them public enemies as soon as she leaves.
Every athlete is free to choose whatever country they want to represent. For those who choose to represent their country, I have more respect for them. Usain could’ve left a long time ago would have had his own video game and his face on a Wheeties box by now if he had chosen to represent the US instead. We know it is a monetary sacrifice for him and the others. Which is why we adore those that give up for love of their country and their people. For that reason, you will never find anyone cheering for Sanya over Novlene or Shericka. And they’d have more respect for her if she just picked a side and stayed on it. She is free to be 100% team USA. She is free to forget her roots if that’s what she wants. But the divisiveness she keeps propogating in the press while pretending love for the country (JA) while she is there needs to stop.
I still feel KC is going to defend their crown at the finals today. Stacy I am all with you on athletes who chooses to represent their country even when especially for them it involves a financial sacrifice in the process. I see your point on the fact that Sanya behind the scene is all jamaican but whenever she is on Camera she comes of as “us vs them”. But my dear the world is full of people like those at least you get to see both sides of her. Image the number of people who smile in front of your face but you donot get to see what they are saying behind your back. To me those people are more dangerous than the two facers. At least you know where you stand with the exposed two facers .
And i say to you Bayreuth Lewis, welcome to the Mean Team, i know you are one of us who don,t play with people… and on this site…we call a spade a spade…thanks to you Minnie and Stacy for bringing Bayreuth up to date on whats going on….and the tough stance we take against unpatriotic Jamaican athletes.
Nuff respect Tony . I am a track fanatic so I look forward to contribute my two cents.
yes stacy you put the strawberry sauce & nuts on my ice cream 4 me you take the words out my mouth. i suspect that im one of the oldest persons on this site so some persons may not be so far back as me in terms of at least SOME OF the things events & persons back in the days in the 80′s and 90′s there was a little girl who migrated to the states named andrea thomas she lived in the BRONX at the time she was a phenomenon and her pet distance was the quarter mile and she represent jamaica in the carifta games and at major senior championships to see proof of that just log on to carifta results and you will see her name appear on several of the medal standings winning good medals for us also look up results for major championship and you will see her name appear as part of our quarter mile relay team. this tells me that this little girl who lived in the states made the time to represent us at all level and showed her loyalty to us.
so that is why i have nothing but contempt for ms richards two face self and i will always rejoice when is see her but get kicked as for debbie dunn me no care whether she mention jamaica she will just be a leg on a relay team a so she will get medal otherwise she no count if she want go run for us it dont matter she dont count me say
Tony, dude, why you calling us the Mean Team. I think I am as sweet as sugar. Minnie, what do you think of the “Tell it Like it is” or “The No BS” Team. LOL.
Okay, has anyone else been watching the Celebrity Apprentice? Why do they keep referring to Michael Johnson as the fastest man in the world? And why is he not correcting them? And unless he ran a 100m WR that I was not aware of, doesn’t that mean he has never been the world’s fastest man? WTH?
no stacy we just talk the truth im 2 old 2 b a hypocrite at this point im straight up. why would michael correct them suppose he is under the false delusion of grandeur that he is actually the fastest man lol
I get your point Minnie. But even if he is delusional enough to believe that, where are the other people on his team getting that belief from? Even if they aren’t into track, you can’t tell me they didn’t watch the Olympics.
Anyway, after what happened in the board room, I do have a new respect for him. He was very honorable. He was fighting to stay but still insisting he was to blame for everything that went wrong and refused to throw anyone under the bus. I was pleasantly surprised to see that side of him.
Guys, remember Brandon Simpson the 1/4 miler. He was born in Florida but he grew up in Jamaica , went to Munro then transfer to Ardenne. He was part of the 4×4 silver medal from the 2001 championship in Canada. He was an up an coming and showing a lot of potntial. Then he start to complain that the JAAA ws not treating him right and asked to be release to represen the USA. Now everybody knows that the USA 400m men race is full of a lot of elite athletes…they are very deep in this area. I don’t he think Brandon was that good to make the USA 4×4 team. Anyway lo and behold we come to undertand that he sells his service to Bahrain . He represents Bahrain at the 2007 Asian games where he won a silver medal in the 400m. He dosent leven live there , dosent speak the language etc. I would say he is worse than Sanya.
no no no noah bayreuth first of all the man never born ya so so his allegiance is more likely with the us (2) however his problem was as with ato boldon was that if the opportunity had presented itself he wouldv reprsented them (the us) but there 2 many steriod kings at the time. he is a different case cause him born over deh so him run for the highest bidder. i think what the problem is is that sonya is very easy on the eyes so her conniving two faced ways are not easy to recognise hey the problem we have with her is that when she comes here she behave like she love us and then on universal sports she blogs about us negatively or talk about the jamaicans come again bayreuth lol
Adam a fellow Munronian here from the 90s. congrats to Munro on finishing in the top 5. I remember the days when 20 points was all we could muster. I hope we pull a Wolmers soon and win one more. We long over due (D Cup too). Keep up the good stuff yute.
Munro channey, rice and peas. lol
When will our athletes realise when you run for the US you are another black woman/man running as long as you do well. When you fly the Jamaican flag you are a super star. Jamaican athletes coming home to a heroes welcome predates Bolt. Sanya choosing to run for the US is a copout, its not money or prestige. Luckily Jamaica owns track and field without Sanya!
Guys common, let’s be realistic, when u go to the store, u all have a choice to buy products produce here in ja or usa, how many of u, honestly can say u always buy ja products consistantly, well do u think u doing our economy or our local famers and producers any favor, Sonya and all the others migrated quite young, the question u need to ask is did the JAAA contact her to reprsent Ja, and at the time do u know where she saw her career going, bearing mind the her knowledge of the strength of our high school system and competition she at first may not have even thought she could’ve made the ja team at that stage so therefore jump to the call, Tony u and all ya supporters would have got excited and do the same, another thing ‘sell out’ traitor’ common she does more for ja than u’ll ever do. And Minnie u are so wrong, the usa fans and the media adore here like a darling i dont know where u got ya info.
we all have choices, whether it’s to buy usa producy instead of ja which most of us do, please be honest, and represent a adopted country, remember choices, no more mental and polical slavery
Frankly, I fail to see how and why should Serena’s ‘temper tantrum’ impedes her performance as a tennis player. with due respect to her,she has fought hard in many matches to be crowned the Champion over and over again … in regards to temper, it is forgiven because personally it shows her passion for the game and as humans no one is perfect…Congrats Serena.
Minnie et al, it’s surprising to read the venom you all have for Ms. Richards (well she marrid now). Anyway, she chose to rep US and it’s unfortunate she was born in Jamaica but represents the USA.
I am sure she has many sleepless nights thinking of her situation but she did not choose to emigrate to the USA. I guess the best thing she could have done for you people would have been to just shut her mouth, don’t visit Jamaica and don’t donate thousands to charities in Jamaica.
How many of you have ever donated thousands to charities? If she was so two-faced as you claim she is, would she have donated and continue to donate to what she feels is a good cause? Think long and hard before you answer that.
Anyway, I have met Mrs. Richards-Ross and she is anything but two-faced. Show me one incident where she bad-talked Jamaicans? If anything, she bigs up America because she has an obligation to but because she does does not make her anti-Jamaican.
She does a hell of a job promoting herself and her skills and must be applauded for that. A lot of her earnings go right back into Jamaica to help kids most of you probably woruldn’t even spend 5 minutes helping.
So if it bun yuh so bad that she is a sell-out then mek it bun yuh!