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| File: Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew |
by Michael Bascombe
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 10, 2011 - The Grenada Government is
expected to unveil a reward and incentive package, in recognition of the
outstanding contributions by some of the nation’s top track and field athletes
and coaches.
Following the gold-medal
performance by Kirani James at the World Championships in Athletics in Daegu,
South Korea, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas hinted about government’s plans to
honour the athletes.
Speaking at a recent ceremony in
New York to honour the World Championships’ athletes, Prime Minister Thomas
said that “Cabinet is now considering a range of options to properly reward our
athletes when they perform at the highest level”.
A source said that a
Cabinet-appointed special committee has made recommendations to the government
which include honouring the three athletes and coach who represented Grenada at
the World Championships and also former World Indoor champion and now US-based
collegiate coach Alleyne Francique.
Details as to what government has
decided are not known but the source confirmed that the Tillman Thomas
administration is preparing to announce the initiative which could also include
assistance to the families of the athletes.
Kirani James won the Men’s 400
metres at the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics and also
secured the title at the Samsung Diamond League while Rondell Bartholomew was a
finalist in the World Championships and also competed in the Diamond League
while Janelle Redhead reached the semi-finals of the Women’s 200 metres at the
World Championships.
Albert Joseph, who was among
those honoured in the ceremony in New York last month, is a founding member of
the Speedzone Track Club and has been credited in identifying James’ talents at
an early age.
Alleyne Francique, a two-time
World Indoor 400 metres champion, is an assistant coach at Texas A&M
University and has already secured six national titles – three men and three
women.
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