It’s only the beginning!

BY SHERDON COWAN Observer staff reporter

Sunday, January 11, 2015    

After equalling the world record for the short course 100-metre breaststroke last year, Alia Atkinson has declared that her best is yet to come.  

Atkinson, who started swimming at age four, became the first black woman to win a world swimming title when she won gold at the World Championship in Doha, Qatar.

The 26-year-old declared her intent for the year ahead, as she described the historic performance as just the beginning.

“It has been a long wait for me; decades really, and it has been one of those things that you just have to continue with it. Day in, day out, it’s the dedication and passion that you have, but nobody can do it alone.

“The world record is just the beginning. Thank you very much for believing in me and everything that I have done up till now. But truly it is only the beginning and I am coming,” she said while expressing her gratitude to the GraceKennedy family shortly after arriving at the Government Lounge at Norman Manley International Airport on Friday.         

Atkinson returned home to a hero’s welcome at a reception hosted by her sponsor GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS). The reception was also used to announce the renewal of her contract as the company’s brand ambassador.

The one-year agreement will position Atkinson as the face of the brand through her inclusion in various marketing activities, including commercials. The financial aspect of the contract was not disclosed.

Atkinson told the gathering that the sponsorship given to her by GraceKennedy Money Services and support from the Jamaican people was the “extra push” she needed.

“The fact is, growing up I had my family and I had my support and it has gotten me to where I was in 2011, but I needed that little extra push. So after 2012 I was extremely grateful for the sponsorship of GraceKennedy Money Services and that sponsorship gave me the confidence to break down barriers,” she said.

“When I am out there in different parts of the world it’s just me, sometimes there is no team, sometimes there is no coach and it’s me walking on the pool deck, one person of colour on the entire pool deck and it can get scary sometimes. But having that support behind me — the Jamaican people, my sponsors that actually believe in me no matter what the outcome was, it’s truly humbling and basically it pushes me to continue forward,” she added.

The sensational swimmer explained that her previous accomplishment is now behind her as she has now turned her focus to the World Championships in Beijing, China.

“I am a stubborn athlete. Yes, I accomplished that, but that was just a title I had and I was moving on to the next one. As everybody else keeps on saying it, then I remember, but my focus is medalling at worlds and breaking some more world records,” she stated.

Atkinson is also on the island to attend the RJR Sports Foundation National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year award ceremony. She will also be hosting a clinic to pass on her expertise to aspiring swimmers.

“Me going out there and swimming is trying to help put Jamaica swimming on the map [and] trying to help our swimming clinics come about. Basically trying to change that myth that we have,” she noted.

“We just want to share the experience that I have had throughout the years and hopefully bring some knowledge about swimming. But basically inspiring them to keep going and that there is more out there if they just give it a little more time and effort,” the decorated swimmer said.

View the original article here

It’s only the beginning!

Warmington says it’s unjustifiable to ask the poor to fund political campaigns

Saturday, October 04, 2014 | 5:15 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The House of Representatives has postponed by a week completion of the debate on the Bill amending the Representation of the People (ROPA) Act.

The Bill seeks to register Jamaican politic parties, after which they will become eligible for annual State funding, for housekeeping expenses of up to 40 per cent of their income from the previous financial year.

The debate was opened on Tuesday by Leader of the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell and also included contributions from MP Dr DK Duncan, who is also a member of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) which made the recommendation.

Vocal Opposition MP Everald Warmington, who criticised the provisions also made contributions.

“We are not able to provide the basic needs of the poor in this country, yet we want to give poor people money to the electoral commission to finance the political campaign of political parties,” Warmington told the House.

“There is no way that I could, with any justification, support this. I cannot justifiably ask the poor people of South West St Catherine to finance my political campaign,” he added.

Warmington’s outburst has raised concerns about how the bill will pass through both Houses of Parliament. This is primarily due to the fact that Parliament has consistently observed a convention of not changing or rejecting the recommendations of the ECJ in the past.

This fact was vigorously highlighted by both Paulwell and Duncan in their presentations Tuesday. But, it is felt that there are MPs and senators on both sides who may agree with Warmington’s position, which could endanger the tradition.

However, no formal explanation has been given for the delayed completion of the debate, which is expected to continue in the House on October 14.

Balford Henry

Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserver

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here

Warmington says it’s unjustifiable to ask the poor to fund political campaigns

It’s Tokyo

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Tokyo yesterday won the right to host the Olympic Games for the second time, overcoming fears about radiation from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant to land the 2020 edition of the world’s biggest sporting event.

Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Buenos Aires chose the Japanese capital, which previously hosted the Games in 1964, over Istanbul, after Madrid was dramatically eliminated following a first-round tie with the Turkish city.Thousands of Japanese who gathered in Tokyo in the early hours of Sunday erupted in joy, making V for victory signs and shouting “banzai!” (hurrah!) as the result was beamed live from the Argentine capital nearly a dozen time zones away.At the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, crowds shouted “arigato!” (thank you!) in unison, several television hosts and their guests were lost for words and in tears, while at the Komozawa Olympic Park — venue of several sports at the 1964 Games — golden tinsel rained down in celebration.“I have been waiting a long time for this feeling,” bid chief Tsunekazu Takeda said in Buenos Aires. “The members of the IOC have seen that Tokyo is a safe pair of hands.”Tokyo city governor Naoki Inose added that the Olympics would help Japan recover from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives and vowed no let up to create what he said would be “the best Games ever”.Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had earlier flown to South America from the G20 summit in St Petersburg, Russia, to reassure nervous members about the safety of the nuclear plant some 220 kilometres (140 miles) from Tokyo amid fears about the leaking of contaminated water.He told delegates that the situation was “under control”, adding: “It has never done or will do any damage to Tokyo.”Fukushima operator, the Tokyo Electric Power Co, also played down fears of a possible spread of radiation in a separate message.Concerns over Fukushima — seriously damaged by the quake and giant waves two-and-a-half years ago — had dogged the bid in the final days, but Abe successfully allayed IOC members’ fears.The final result was 60 votes for Tokyo against 36 for Istanbul.Tokyo — third in the vote for the 2016 Games won by Rio de Janeiro — had been the front-runners originally, as they promised a safe and financially secure Games in what they termed “uncertain times”.The decision means it will be the fourth time that Japan plays host to the Olympics, having also organised winter Games in Nagano (1998) and Sapporo (1972).Asia will see successive Olympics as the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang is hosting the 2018 winter edition.Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe (centre right), and Tokyo’s Governor Naoki Inose (centre left), celebrate after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympic Games yesterday. (PHOTO: AP)

View the original article here

It’s Tokyo

It’s a Ba Ba Boom Time

BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON Observer staff reporter livingstonc@jamaicaobserver.com

For the first time since 1966, there will be no Festival or Popular Song Contest. Instead, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, producers of the event, have launched a campaign where fans can vote online for their favourite song. Today, the Jamaica Observer starts a six-part series on past competitions.THERE was great anticipation going into the 1967 Festival Song Contest, the second year the Independence competition was being held.The Jamaicans, comprising Tommy Cowan, Norris Weir and Martin Williams, were eventual winners with Ba Ba Boom.Cowan, who sang lead on the song, shared the inspiration behind its lyrics with the Sunday Observer.“It was during a time when you sey something is ‘boom’ then you mean it’s enjoyable,” he said. “It was all about fun; festival was a lot of fun in those days.”The inaugural contest held in 1966 was won by Toots and The Maytals with Bam Bam, a mento-themed song.Writing Ba Ba Boom, Cowan recalled, took some effort. He said it was composed at his home at Delacree Road in St Andrew.“We wanted to come up with something that people could enjoy, that would generate a lot of interest,” he said.The Jamaicans were not one of the prolific rocksteady groups. They broke through in 1967 with the song, Things You Say You Love, produced by Duke Reid.According to Cowan, it was a tough call as the final approached.“Any of the top three songs could have won that year,” he said.The Jamaicans prevailed, beating Unity by Desmond Dekker and the Aces and Al and the Vibrators with Move Up.“It was like a big election as we had to campaign all over the country seeking votes for our song,” Cowan reflected.The Jamaicans split up in the early 1970s. Cowan went into music production and artiste management, achieving success with artistes such as Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus and Israel Vibration.Recently, The Jamaicans performed in San Francisco.Cowan believes the energy has gone out of ‘Festival’ or as it is known today, the Popular Song Contest.“At one point, the organisers had strict rules on the arrangement, then there was another time when Jamaica had to be in it… seems like the Festival has become in people’s mind like an amateur competition and has lost its significance,” he said.THE JAMAICANS: File picture shows Tommy Cowan (left) and Norris Weir at an event in Trench Town, St Andrew, in December last year. Not in picture is Martin Williams.

View the original article here

It’s a Ba Ba Boom Time