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History
of JTA sports
 The
Jamaica Teachers` Association (JTA) believes in the
total development of the child. Sports is one of the
avenues through which both the mind and the body may
be developed. In 1984, the JTA organised the Primary
and All-Age Age Schools` Athletic Championship. In 19
years, we have exposed approximately 30,000 athletes
to a very high quality competitive Meet. One sports
writer described our Meet as 'one that is equal to most,
but better than many.'
Many
of these athletes have represented Jamaica at national
and international levels. Daniel England, Ricardo (Flash)
Williams, Keisha McKenzie, Usain Bolt, Tanya Jarrett,
Wayne Fenton, Michelle Freeman, Debbi-Ann Parris, Lisa
Sharp, Aneisha McLaughlin and Theon O`Connor, are just
a few of the athletes
who were exposed by our Meet.
BACKGROUND
On
May 16, 1962, the first All-Island Primary and All School
Sports was held at the National Stadium. The Right Honourable,
Sir Alexander Bustamante lauded the efforts of the Jamaica
Union of Teachers at the Meet.
The
Competition was held annually until 1969, however due
to lack of financial support, escalating cost and non-governmental
support, it came to an end. In 1973, the Meet was revived
by Trevor Parchment, and ran for two years. In those
two years, like the Gibson Relays, which was also launched
in 1973 and named after a great educator, it became
a model for showing that even large athletic Meets with
thousands of young people could be staged with punctuality
and precision.
In
1984, the JTA organised the Primary and All-Age Schools`
Competition which is now a major event on the JAAA Calendar.
In 1988, Blue Cross became the major sponsor of the
Meet.
The
JTA is truly indebted to our many sponsors who have
assisted us in making this Meet possible.
The
twenty-first staging of this Meet will be held at the
GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sports,
May 20 and 21, 2004.
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