The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recently approved an application filed by the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) to have the U-TECH Classic track meet approved as a qualifying event for paralympic athletes who have their eyes set on this summer’s paralympic games in London.
This is indeed historic as it is the first time that the IPC has endorsed a local track meet as a qualifying event for international competitions.
It is the hope of the Association that other local meets will receive the approval of the international body and that those meets will develop to be recognized international events for paralympians worldwide to attend and compete for coveted medals.
Jamaica has an enviable history of excellence in paralympic international championships garnering 76 gold, 49 silver and 39 bronze medals at various international and regional competitions while breaking several world records. This year expectations are high for another haul of medals at the London Paralympic Games where decorated athletes Tanto Campbell, Alphanso Cunningham, Sylvia Grant and Shane Hudson will lead the charge.
“We will be pulling out all stops to make London historic and memorable and to emphatically announce Jamaica’s arrival at center stage in international competition, ” stated President of the Jamaica Paralympic Association Christopher Samuda.
The team, prior to the commencement of the paralympic games on August 29, will go into a training camp in Bedfordshire at its University for 10 days under the focused watch of its technical staff.
