Coming soon on the University Campus is one of the biggest, “baddest”, sporting events of the year, the sports department, and halls of residence, well wishers, friends and supporters alike all brace for the Sports Day 2011. With a lineup of activities like never before Sports Day 2011 will be an unforgettable one. With Intramural Hall rivalry still alive and well- fans, runners, well wishers are all waiting with unabated breath to see whether or not Chansea can retain the championship trophy for two consecutive years or will the “Hall of halls” Taylor Hall take back what’s “rightfully” theirs–bragging rights. 

2011 will be a year like none other as Sports Day will be held on one of the biggest sporting development for the UWI in 2010 – the Regupol Track or the UWI Usain Bolt Track. The track as the name suggests was synonymously named after two time record holder Honorable Usain Bolt for his stunning performance at the Olympic Games in 2008 and the IAAF World Athletics Championship 2009 and hence his outstanding contribution to this country. Whether it is the retention of or retrieval of bragging rights Sports Day this year will be one in a million with a state of the art track at the disposal of athletes and patrons alike coupled with a first time initiative a grand Sports Extravaganza will indeed heighten the excitement, fun and frolic of the moment. 

So a Sports Extravaganza on Sports Day what’s that about? The Sports Extravaganza is just yet another brilliant and innovative idea coming from the UWI Sports Department geared towards informing the wider student population about the myriad of sporting activities and opportunities on campus. This bonanza will take the form of a massive fair day with lots of prizes and surprises for everyone. With the news circulating that the event will be held on the new track the department is anticipating a massive turnout which ultimately means that the “swag” on the planning, organizing and promoting has been peaked to another level. The Sports Extravaganza which will be a huge feature of this year’s Sports Day which will host a number of national sporting associations on the day. These associations will disclose pertinent information to spectators about the various sporting events and or opportunities to become an active member of either one of these teams. 

The national associations to be present are the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) among others This day will provide well needed public relations for these organizations as the age group of persons slated to be at the event will be the ideal age group for the recruitment of interested persons. In highlighting the myriad of ways, possibilities and opportunities for students to get involved in filter sports the Sports Department will also give each hall of residence a tent to showcase or highlight the sporting achievements and or activities that are offered yearly. This in and of itself can be a very effective tool as it is easier to find or filter students into a particular sport whenever they complete in intramural activities. 

With an event of such magnitude a number of sponsors have seen it fit to come on board with this year’s Sports Day Extravaganza. Some of the sponsors include Supreme Ventures, Locker Room Sports, Gatorade, Grace Kennedy, Western Sports, Cooyah among others. These sponsors will also be a part of the Tent City where they too will be showcasing, promoting, selling and giving away products that are unique to them yet sports friendly. The initiative has even caught the attention of new sponsors since negotiations are still in place for corporate Jamaica to join the bandwagon in not just any normal way but in a stylish and extravagant manner which will sell their brand or product at the Bolt Track.  There will also be an erection of a mount on the day where students will be able to chill with their favorite stars while receiving exceptional treatment at their special occasion. The tickets to the mount will not be entirely opened to everyone but will be accessible for the most part to approximately 200 students who would have won them while participating on the social network site or at a promotional campaign. These two new methods of attracting more supporters will get into full gear in the last two weeks before Sports Day. Red Stripe is a new sponsor to the Sports department and with such a new and creative way of selling themselves to the campus will no doubt see them will be considered a keeper for future events. 

The excitement does not stop here as the organizers of the event are working assiduously to get a number of national players at the event so players and or athletes from various clubs, associations or leagues will be present on the day to take photos, sign autographs or just to lyme with the Pelicans. So far Tivoli Garden’s Football Club, Racers track Club, the Sunshine Girls, the national cheerleaders under the management of Jamfit group has confirmed to be at the event but one of the highlights of the day promises to come from the fact that it would only make sense the man himself is at the bowl at such a major meet-yes the man himself Honorable Usain Bolt. He too like the other national players will be available for photos, autographs and lyming but most importantly and unlike his other national colleagues he will also be there to sign copies of his book titled “Usain Bolt My Story 9.58 being the World’s fastest man”, which Amazon describes as a book about “a skinny kid from the parish of Trelawney, where they harvest the best yams in the world. It about growing up playing cricket and football in the warm Jamaican sun, then discovering that he could run fast, very fast. It’s about the highs and lows, the dedication and sacrifices required to get to the top. This is the story of the fastest man on the planet.”  So come prepared to be wowed at such an auspicious occasion as this day will not go down as an ordinary one. 

I know to some that it may seem too good to be true or rather unbelievable that this is the actual line for the day but I’ll encourage everyone not to miss out on this grand opportunity as this is a first time initiative being carefully planned and executed by a team of talented and creative minds from the UWI Sports Department geared towards you the student population. Sports day will be filled with “nuff” excitement as the national cheerleading squad will start off the cheerleading competition in good spirits, in a competitive, spacious and friendly environment. With 24 hours surveillance from the UWI Campus security, good food, music and entertainment, to miss is simply to diss!