(Jamaica Observer)…TEAM Jamaica Bickle (TJB), the US-based organisation that assists thousands of Jamaican high school athletes each year, will honour two of Jamaica’s outstanding former athletes, Bertland Cameron and Grace Jackson, next month in New York.A release from TJB said Cameron, the 1983 IAAF World Championships 400m gold medallist, and Jackson, the Olympic 200m silver medallist, will be recognised at the US launch and Awards Ceremony to take place on Thursday, April 12 at the Lex Lounge, 369 Lexington Avenue, NYC.
“Their achievements on the track have since been parlayed into extraordinary careers benefiting Jamaica, aiding in the areas of coaching and sports development,” the release said.Cameron is a member of the coaching staff at Racers Track Club where he conditions athletes including national 400m record-holder Jermaine Gonzales, while Jackson is the Sports Development Director at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
The release quoted Irwine G Clare Snr, TJB’s CEO and founder, as saying, “Both are highly distinguished in their field and are worthy honorees. This is a banner year for us and all Jamaicans, so celebrating not one, but two of our Olympic stalwarts is appropriate, in the year we celebrate Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence from Great Britain.”
TJB organizes accommodation and meals for Jamaican athletes as well as athletes from other Caribbean countries who take part in the annual Penn Relays Carnival in Philadelphia in April each year.
Their calendar of activities will get underway on March 25 with a church service at the St John’s United Methodist church, in Valley Stream, Long Island, with a second set for April 15 in Brooklyn at the Lenox Road Baptist Church, with Reverend Dr Kirkpatrick Cohall and congregation, for the second year running.
TJB will have its Jamaica launch on Monday, April 2 in Kingston, while the Philadelphia Organising Committee will host their launch on Friday, April 13.Among other activities planned by the Philadelphia Organising Committee are an Appreciation Brunch on Sunday, March 25, and a community forum, which will take place on Thursday, April 26.
