TRACK-AND-FIELD coach Michael Oliviera believes Jamaica is producing about 30 per cent of its potential in sports, and argues this could be more if corporate Jamaica and government collaborate in developing sports locally.

"There is plenty of talent here. All that is needed is some help with the various track and field programmes at every level," Oliviera says.

Coaches and sport administrators are hoping that the magical success of Jamaica's athletes at the Beijing Olympics will be the impetus for greater injection of resources into sports by the public and private sectors.

Support from the beginning

Vilma Charlton, Olympian and executive member of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), believes "support for our athletes must come at the beginning".

Jamaica has a rich history of sporting competition, with the popular Boys' Championships approaching 100 years. However, several of the athletes who starred at 'Champs' have fallen into the cracks because of a lack of financial support.

"Support normally comes at the back end," says Charlton in direct reference to the financial windfall and endorsements that come after the athletes reap success internationally.

"We always see these adver-tisements after the team does well," she tells The Sunday Gleaner. "Sometimes, these same companies were asked to give a hand to the national championship and they said no. But they spend a lot of money doing an ad after the team is successful. It is fashionable to be supportive now, but I fear it may soon die down."

The specialist hurdles coach says greater financial support is needed for coaches. Oliviera also underscores the need for access to more training facilities as well as the need for a proper nutrition programme for athletes.

"Several athletes have dropped out because they cannot afford to find one meal per day, every day," Oliviera says.

He estimates that it could cost at least $200,000 yearly to support an athlete's training programme.

Nutritional assistance

He is supported by Charlton who says the need for nutritional assistance for athletes is great.

"It would be very good if the Government could come up with a programme of nutrition for all athletes at a certain level ... maybe one meal a day after training," Charlton says.

Olympic sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser is an example of a local athlete who has excelled because persons saw the need to help her.

Assistance at school

Fraser, who is from the inner-city community of Waterhouse, was not born into the wealthiest of families.

However, during Fraser's time at Wolmer's Girls' School, several parents assisted in her development.

This, Charlton says, allowed Fraser's high-school coach, Michael Carr, to concentrate on training.

The formula worked. Although Fraser was never the Girls' Cham-pionships standout, she would settle into a steady programme at the MVP Club before eventually winning gold in the 100 metres at the Olympic Games.

"We have to do some positive things. Most of our athletes come from very humble beginnings. Some of them could do with better surroundings," Charlton says, stressing the need for the country to help in driving sports programmes.

While pointing to the need for more multi-purpose facilities in the island, Charlton believes the govern-ment has a key role to play.

"Like they do in Cuba, we may need to move in the direction where once we see a talent, we bring that talent in and take care of it until it comes to fruition," Charlton says.