Jamaica has moved early in its preparations for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) renewing its agreement with Japan’s Tottori Prefecture to host the national team’s pre-championship training camp.
The agreement was signed on Monday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, securing Tottori as Jamaica’s base ahead of the championships, which will be held in Beijing, China, from September 11 to 19, 2027.
The arrangement builds on a partnership between Jamaica and Tottori that dates back to 2007, following the World Athletics Championships in Osaka. What began as a training arrangement has developed into a broader sporting and cultural partnership between Jamaica and the Japanese prefecture.
JAAA President Garth Gayle said securing the agreement well in advance will allow the association to plan critical aspects of the team’s preparations, including accommodation, travel and other logistics. The arrangement will also give athletes, coaches and team managers sufficient time to prepare for the Beijing championships.
Tottori previously hosted Jamaica’s pre-championship camp ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where the delegation benefited from training facilities, technical support and other services.
The 2027 camp is expected to provide similar benefits while allowing Jamaica to conduct trial meets and other preparations before the team travels to Beijing. The location is also considered advantageous for acclimatisation because of similarities between conditions in Japan and China.
The partnership has extended beyond athletics, with Jamaican athletes participating in community and cultural exchanges during previous visits. These have included interactions with students, children and community groups in Tottori, further strengthening ties between the two countries.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange welcomed the renewed agreement as part of Jamaica’s broader sporting diplomacy and international cooperation. She highlighted the development of the relationship over nearly two decades and the support provided to Jamaican athletes and officials during their stays in Japan.
The wider Jamaica-Japan relationship has also been strengthened through educational, community and sporting initiatives, including the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. Jamaican Olympian Christine Day has served as Jamaica’s first sports exchange adviser and is based in Tottori, where she contributes to athletics development and athlete mentorship.
The signing was attended by Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai and other Japanese officials, along with Jamaican government representatives, including Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie.
With the Tottori agreement now secured, Jamaica has established an important part of its preparations more than a year before Beijing 2027, providing the JAAA with an early opportunity to organise the national team’s build-up to the championships.