McNab

Former sportsman Ali McNab believes the excellent feat achieved by the Jamaican team at the Beijing Olympics can be repeated if retired athletes get involved in honing talents.

McNab, an adviser to the sports minister, Olivia Grange, cited the example of triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, who was discovered by Olympian Pablo McNeil.

"They (retired athletes) have the eye, they have been there and done that, they know the talent," said McNab, a former footballer who represented Jamaica.

School coach

McNeil coached Bolt when he attended William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny.

"I feel compelled to give back, and so I tell all the sports people out there to get involved," he said.

McNab noted that the person who spotted the talent does not have to be the individual who grooms the athlete to stardom.

"If you love something, set it free, it will come back," said McNab. "I am sure that some time or another Usain Bolt is going to thank Pablo McNeil for exposing him," he said.

Yvonne Kong, principal of G.C. Foster College, attributed Jamaica's success in Beijing to the contribution of Olympians who are involved in track and field.

Kong said veteran Olympians are involved in the industry at every level, within schools and athletic organisations.

Giving to the country

"Former athletes will give back at the school level, assisting with coaching, and as such, they give back to the country," said Kong.

Jamaican K.C. Graham, assistant coach of the women's track team at Hampton University in Virginia, United States, said it is important for Olympians to visit their alma mater.

"Most of these people do not go back to their roots to motivate those who want to be like them," said Graham, a former coach at St Jago High School, a dominant sports institution.