Chinese promises to GC Foster College

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The six Chinese coaches who are in Jamaica for a special one month course in sprinting at GC Foster College were feted at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston Thursday night.

Mr. Edward Shakes principal of the college who spoke, said that the coaches were fitting in well.  They had structured classes led by Jamaica’s Technical Leader Maurice Wilson.  They were observing the training sessions of the students including those who were preparing for the national senior trials which is set for next weekend.  Shakes indicated that they were trying to learn as much as they can about track and field in Jamaica.  The Chinese issued an invitation for persons at the college to visit the Beijing University of Sport – the university from which the coaches are attached – with a view of forming a alliance to the mutual benefit of the two organizations.

Dr. Wang Anlee – the leader of the group had high praises for the hospitality received by the team so far from the college.  Dr. Wang said the infrastructure at the college should be better to represent Jamaica and that if it was better we would have produced many more Bolts already.  He hoped that the government will put more money into the college as it did not look like a modern facility in terms of its infrastructure.  He said also that he had gotten permission to invite the principal or the Minister of Education to visit their Beijing University of Sport with the intention of developing further corporation between the two organizations.

Also at the function was His Excellency Dong Xiaojun Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China who was pleased that China had been able to take up Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s offer of ten scholarships to GC Foster College.  The balance of the four scholarships will be taken up by four students who will begin full time classes in September.  He said that in time he hoped to assist Jamaica in the sports that they were good at.  Those included Table Tennis, Badminton and Gymnastics.  Additionally he said that he hoped that they learn how to run fast like Jamaicans.

The six coaches are HONGTAO CHEN , YAN JUNTAO , YINGBO ZHANG, HIU YANG, ANLI WANG and LI  XIUMEI who is the lone female in the group.

Mrs. Collett Roberts-Risden, the chief technical director in the office of the prime minister and Dr. Franklyn Johnston, chief advisor to the minister of education brought greetings on behalf of their respective institutions.