The Drive Phase

Guest: Don Anderson
Sports Administrator 

In this episode, Don Anderson discusses the management side of the Olympic Games. He shares his favourite Olympic Games and the type of planning that goes into managing a country’s team going to the Olympic Games. He also spoke about the role of the Chef de Mission and part of Jamaica management team, for five Olympic Games. 

Don also speaks about:

• His first time as a part of Jamaican’s management team for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. 
• The challenges in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia with the Merlene Ottey controversy and a country divided on who would represent Jamaica in the 100m women.
• Stories from the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, United States of America. 
• The issues Jamaica’s sports administrator faced at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. 
• Usain Bolt’s first time representing Jamaica at an Olympic Games. 

Don speaks about the importance of volunteers in the management of Jamaican teams at the major games.  He also spoke about the challenges faced with getting cooperation from the management teams of track and field athletes while at major games. 

Other topics discussed are:

• His experiences at his favourite Olympic Games, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China 
• The importance of nutritional support for athletes and administrators at major games. 
• The popularity of Jamaican teams and how the performance of athletes have boosted the Jamaican brand worldwide. 
• Details of the post-event management in major games. 
• Advice for persons interested in getting involved in sports administration. 

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Guest: Toni-Ann Williams
Olympian Gymnast

In this episode, Toni-Ann discusses her historical journey. The Olympians shares her emotions when she learnt she had qualified to represent Jamaica at the Rio 2016 Summer Games. She also speaks about family’s support in her athletic journey especially her mom’s level of involvement in her achievements.

Toni-Ann also discusses:

• Her decision at age 15 to compete for Jamaica even though she was not born in Jamaica. 
• Wanting to use her success and Olympic qualification to inspire a new generation of gymnasts in Jamaica. 
• The support from, and interacting with, other Jamaican athletes at Rio 2016. 
• How she balanced competing for Jamaica and at the collegiate level at the University of California, Berkeley simultaneously. 
• Her recovery and motivation to persevere from six major injuries and five surgeries

Other topics discussed are:
Her continuous preparation for the upcoming international games. 
Her experience as a coach so far at United Gymnastix and Towson University.
Top and lowest moments as a gymnast. 
Her advocacy on raising awareness of racial discrimination and diversity in gymnastics. Abuse of athletes in the sport and the need for continued advocacy for the protection of youth in sports

Connect with Toni-Ann on:
Twitter
Instagram

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com
You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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Guest: Ricardo Makyn
Chief Photo Editor at The Jamaica Gleaner

In this episode, Ricardo Makyn discusses Olympic moments through his lens. He speaks about how he developed his interest in photography after working a summer job at a photo studio and studying and being trained in photography via mail when he started in the late 1990s. 

Ricardo shares: 

• How his career starting at the Sunday Herald helped to develop his storytelling skills as a photographer. 
• The type of preparation that goes into covering major championships as a photographer
• Advantages of being a Jamaica photographer at major sporting events
• Day to day experience of covering major sporting championships as a photo-journalist for The Gleaner. 

Other topics discussed are:

• The aura and presence of the legendary Usain Bolt at major sporting championships and his impact on sports 
• Being viewed as an ambassador for Jamaica when covering major sporting championships.
• Advice for young journalists and covering the Boys and Girls Championships build their skills as a photo-journalist.
• His work being included in the keepsake book, “Usain Bolt Legend”, which was done by The Gleaner to chronicle Bolt’s historical journey in sprinting

Connect with Ricardo on:
Twitter
Facebook
Website

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com
You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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Guest: Lance Whittaker
Sports Broadcaster and Commentator

In this episode, Lance discusses his decades of experience in sports broadcasting. He speaks about landing his dream job as a sports journalist and the various changes in sports broadcasting since he started his career in 1984.  He also shares his highest and lowest moments covering Caribbean in the several Olympic Games.

Lance also discussed: 

• His respect for fellow commentator Hubert Lawrence and what it is like working with him over the years. 
• How radio prepared him as a sports commentator to transition into television and how his passion for sports has fuelled his success as a broadcaster. 
• The importance of maintaining your edge in a now competitive broadcasting landscape. 

Other topics discussed are:

The role of SportsMax in changing the face of sports broadcasting regionally and working with broadcasters such as Simon Crosskill and Alexis Nunes. 

• His views on the future of track and field in Jamaica and the Caribbean and Jamaica’s prospects in track along with the potential of success in field events.
• The need for investment in local horse-racing locally 
• The decline of the Cricket West Indies and the popularity of the sport among youth regionally 

Connect with Lance on:
Twitter
Facebook

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You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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In this Episode of the Drive Phase Podcast , do another version of our newest feature “Producer’s Corner”. Our show Producer Rosheika Grant joints host Dalton to discuss some local, regional and international sporting issues. 

Rosheika is an avid sport fan and has worked in media and communications ever since she graduated University. She has also been the producer for this podcast since inception.

 They discuss, amongst other things:

• Return of International Football 
• West Indies Cricket Team tour of England
• NBA Restart and Players Unrests
• Racism in Sport 

Follow Rosheika on Twitter

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com

You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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In this episode, Marketing & Communications Specialist Carole Beckford discusses her storied experience within the sporting industry. Carole, who served as Publicist for Usain Bolt, discusses her start in Sports Journalism as well as tips for persons wanting to get into the sporting Industry. She also speaks about her time as an educator in Jamaica and Bahamas. 

Carole also spoke about:

• The importance of building a network as you seek to establish yourself in the sporting industry and the value of volunteering for sporting events such as conferences and major championships. 
• Lack of adequate regional integration and how it may affect the development of the sporting industry regionally. 
• Creating opportunities from the culture of sports in the Caribbean.
• Her most memorable moments as a publicist. 
• Her advice for young people interested in being in the sporting industry. 

Other topics discussed are:  

• How she got involved in marketing and communications. 
• Her experience working with Usain Bolt and how much it taught her about the business of track and field. 
• Her move to Cricket West Indies and what lessons she learnt while serving as the Marketing and Communications Manager. 
• The career options in sport including agents, marketers, media personnel, analytics and artificial intelligence, physiotherapist and masseur. 

Connect with Carole on:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Blog

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com 
 
You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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In this episode, Hubert discusses historical moments in sports and future of Track and Field. He shares how he got started as a journalist and also as a commentator in the 1980s. He also speaks about his passion for track and field and his views on his role as an analyst and commentator in bringing sports to life for listeners and viewers. 

Hubert shares his views on the future of Jamaican track and field. He highlights several young Jamaican track field male and female sprinters such as Dejour Russell, Christopher Taylor and Michael O’Hara, Danielle Sloley, Brittany Anderson and Kevona Davis. He also shares his expectations for Jamaica to excel in events such as the 800m, triple jump, long jump, shot put and the discus throw.

Other topics discussed are:

• The return of track and field amidst the pandemic and digital media being used by various sports to remain relevant. 
• The future of track and field events in North America and the Caribbean and the possibilities of having a regular circuit in the region. 
• His views on Jamaica athletes training locally versus internationally. 
• Most memorable Olympic moments he has commentated on. 
• Advice for youth athletes and sports journalists/commentators.

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com

You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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In this Episode of the Drive Phase Podcast , we have we start a new feature called the “Producer's Corner”. Our show's Producer, Rosheika Grant joins host Dalton to discuss some local, regional and international sport talking points. 

Rosheika is an avid sport fan and has worked in media and communications ever since she graduated University. She has also been the producer for this podcast since inception.

They discuss:

• Local and International Football postponements
• Cricket- The Chris Gayle public spat with CPL
• Basketball- “The Last Dance”
• Other Sporting issues

Follow Rosheika on Twitter

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com
You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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 Twitter: @thedrivephaseja
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In our new episode, Dalton speaks with the Olympian Yona Knight-Wisdom about his journey as an international diver. Yona spoke about the success of competing at the 2016 Rio Olympic followed by the disappointment of not medalling in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the changes he made to his coaching team and training sites following the Games.  He spoke candidly about some of his best moments as well as one of the lowest moments of his career- FINA Diving World Cup 2014 Shanghai. There are also some advice for young divers.

Yona also discusses:

1. His decision to represent Jamaica competitively 
2. The challenges in being taller than the average diver and how he overcame them 
3. How being physically analysed at Liverpool John Moores University impacted his confidence Yona's physical analysis Youtube Feature 
4. Obstacles faced in participating in international competitions in preparing for qualifying for his first Olympics in 2016
5. His experience as the first person to represent Jamaica in diving at Rio 2016 

Other topics discussed are:

• How different his mentality was at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games compared to the 2018 Commonwealth Games
• Maintaining fitness during the shutdown as a result of the pandemic

Connect with Yona on:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com

You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:
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Facebook: The Drive Phase
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In this episode, David and Julian discuss the impact of the shutdown and postponement of track and field events because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They speak about:

1. The postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics
2. The impact of the shutdown of training facilities on athletes’ fitness and preparation for competing
3. The financial impact of the shutdown and postponement of track and field events
4. The disparity in resources available to athletes in other countries and Jamaicans 

They also spoke about the impact that the cancellation of events on the future of junior athletes and the importance of discussing the changes with them.

Other topics discussed are:

• Keeping student-athletes engaged during the pandemic 
• The possibility of a National Senior Championships being held this August 
• Preparation for the major championships from 2021 to 2025 
• Advice for young coaches 
• Planning for viral illnesses  

David Riley is a veteran Athletics Coach and the President of the Jamaica Track And Field Coaches Association (JTFCA).  Julian Robinson is a National Throwing Coach who has been credited with Jamaica’s recent success in throwing events regionally and internationally.

Connect with David on:
Twitter
Facebook

Connect with Julian on:
Instagram

 Check out our website: www.thedrivephase.com 
You can listen to The Drive Phase on any podcast directory. Here are a few:

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Feel free to follow us on Social Media
 Twitter: @thedrivephaseja
 Facebook: The Drive Phase
 Instagram: Thedrivephase