The Editor, Sir:

The achievements of our athletes at the Beijing Olympics cannot be overstated.

Many ways have been suggested in which to honour these stars, who made Jamaicans the world over feel proud. I would humbly put forward that the Government, the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association or whoever sets up an account at one of our financial institutions, that would be open to the public, so that, as Jamaicans, we can all contribute to the development of the sport.

When one hears of the struggle that some of these performers have to go through early in their development, there has to be a way to prevent any of this from happening in the future, if we want to take this seriously. This will definitely give them a headstart to their dreams.

Universal participation

We, as ordinary Jamaicans, cannot fail our athletes. We were all jumping and screaming, wearing our colours and waving our flags. With that same level of joy and enthusiasm must come the universal participation - the widow's mite, even down to the little red money thrown away on our roads - to ensure that we bask in more glory in the future.

Other similar accounts could be set up for other sports as well.

If this account is set up and advertised regularly, I'm sure our brothers and sisters overseas would be more than willing to share in this endeavour.

I am, etc.,

ARTHUR POWELL

rattypow@yahoo.com