Other Sports - NEWS

Kerr... acquired a Jamaican passport in May

ERROL Kerr, the 22-year-old who hopes to represent Jamaica in Ski Cross at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, is a step closer to realising his dream as the International Ski Federation (FIS) has approved his request for a change of nationality.

The FIS granted Kerr - who was born in New York of an American mother and a Jamaican father - approval to represent the land of his father's birth at a meeting in South Africa last Friday.

"It's finally official," Kerr told the Observer from his home near Lake Tahoe, California, yesterday.

He said he had been in discussion with the world body for the past three years. Kerr is currently ranked 24th in the world and was a member of the US team and finished second for the US and second overall at the last World Cup.
Last April he requested a release from the US team to represent Jamaica.

Kerr, who acquired a Jamaican passport in May, also paid his first visit to the island at that time and spent 15 days trying to drum up support and sponsorship for his Olympic bid.
While here, he met with Minister of Sports Olivia Grange and Chairman of the Sports Development Foundation, David Mais.

Kerr told the Observer it would cost in the region of US$300,000 to qualify for the 2010 Winter Games which will involve competing in a full FIS World Cup season, including events in Europe, Japan and the United States.

He said he had appointed former US Olympic coach Raul Guisado to help prepare him and was on the hunt for a ski technician.

Guisado, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, coached teams at two winter Olympics.
Winter sportswear manufacturers, Spyder, will make the uniforms for Kerr, the athlete said.

"It looks like something that could be totally awesome," Kerr said in anticipation of his representing Jamaica in ski cross, which involves skiers going head-to-head in negotiating a slope with four jumps along the route.

Any country may enter the sport at the Winter Olympics and as long as Kerr remains in the top 150 in the world between now and the qualifying cut-off period, he will be able to compete there.

Kerr said he would return to Jamaica on June 18 to do follow-up work with his sponsorship bid.

Jamaica was last represented at a Winter Olympics at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.