200m national champion Brian Revell (centre) received a $1 million endorsement from the Jamaica Olympic Association through the organization’s Young Olympic Changemaker award. Pictured with JOA president Christopher Samuda and executive director and CEO Ryan Foster. (Photo credit: Provided)
July 8, 2024
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s 2024 men’s 200 metres national champion, Brian Revell, has been presented with a $1 million cash investment by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) through its “Young Olympic Changemaker” award.
Revell, a graduate of Edwin Allen High School and a champion, CARIFTA and under-20 World Championship medallist, announced his arrival on the big stage by winning the 200m event at the recently concluded National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium.
JOA Executive Director and CEO Ryan Foster, shaking hands with Revell in pledging his support to her, described the partnership as “a handshake of recognition of excellence, empathy for a need and a shared Olympic dream made real. This is a firm handshake of mutual trust, demonstrating that we are working together to realise Brian’s ambitions and for the glory of Jamaica.”
Revell said he was proud that the JOA saw fit to support his dreams and aspirations.
Commenting on Levell’s link with the JOA, Levell’s manager, Damia Russell, praised Levell’s resilience and “will to win” in the face of “zero sponsorship”, saying: “Brian will inspire and show other young boys and girls that dreams can come true and hard work can pay off.”
Meanwhile, JOA Chairman Christopher Samuda said, “We have a social contract with our athletes, who are our business, our livelihood and our lifeline, to provide opportunities on a level playing field. This financial investment levels the playing field for Brian and allows him to ‘elevate the playing field’ as he pursues his athletic career and academic goals.”
In a historic move in 2021, the JOA invested millions of dollars into the launch of its own Coaches Scholarship Scheme to complement the existing Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Scheme it offers to athletes. In May, at the official launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the governing body announced that, at the request of other athletes, it had expanded its Athlete Investment Portfolio to provide financial support to Malik James King, Samantha Hall, Shaneeka Ricketts and Nayoka Clunis. All four have qualified to compete as part of the Jamaican athletics team at the Olympic Games, the iconic and greatest global multi-sport event.
{“jamaica-observer”:”Jamaica Observer”}
