Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

THE DREAMS of Jamaican athletes aiming for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, will start being realised tomorrow with the staging of the three-day National Championships at the National Stadium.

Ludlow Watts, chairman of the organising committee, at a press conference held at title sponsors Supreme Ventures' office in New Kingston, yesterday, said all was ready and raring to go.

"Everything is ready," Watts said while promising, "spectators will see a well-run meet."

Overseas athletes

Watts also said there would be 36 events and 316 athletes, including a few from overseas who would only compete in the heats of the track events.

He also said there was a wider variety of events for the Championships; especially since triple-jumper Trecia Smith, decathlete Maurice Smith and long jumper James Beckford had made significant achievements on the world stage.

The men's 100 metres draws the biggest field as 65 athletes, including world 100m record- holder Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, the former world record holder, will face the starter. In the women's 100m, 22 athletes have entered while in the men's 400m, 41 are set to run.

In the 1,500 men's event, 11 have entered and, according to Watts, "This is surprising compared to in the past."

Still, all eyes will be on the men's 100m where Bolt and Powell, the world's two fastest men, will meet.

Expect intense rivalry

JAAA president Howard Aris said: "We are looking towards another year of intense, friendly rivalry at all levels.

"Jamaica has always had rivalries over the years - Herb McKenley and Arthur Wint, and in 1962 Olympic - McKenley and George Rhoden, and we had rivalry between Donald Quarrie and Lennox Miller for years," he said. "Then our female athletes, Merlene (Ottey) and Grace (Jackson); so it's not new to have this kind of rivalry and it's healthy and creates some problems, but good problems to have," he said.

Meanwhile, tickets went on sale on Tuesday and are available at the Hilton Kingston hotel, the Sports Development Foundation office and the stadium ticket office. The bleachers might be opened tomorrow and Saturday, depending on the demand for tickets.