President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Mike Fennell, is happy with Jamaica's Olympics preparations and expects Beijing to be our best Olympics outing. 

Mr Fennell visited the athletics training camp in Tianjin, two hours south east of Beijing, on Thursday and held a meeting with athletes and officials. He said Jamaica's programme was on target. "This is what they have worked for and they are quite keen to go out there and deliver. I have found the mood in the camp quite good and everybody seems ready to go. I am here to encourage them and to spend a bit of time with them." 

Mr Fennell said the other members of Jamaica's Olympics contingent had arrived in China and were settling in well.  "Our cyclists arrived today and the equestrian rider is doing well in Hong Kong. Our swimmers have also been training, so things are going well but we still have a multitude of little details to cover. You find that organisation in China requires approvals at every level and this can be really time consuming. But we are doing all that is required of us." On the question of the air quality and the potential impact it may have on the athletes, Mr Fennell said he was satisfied that there would be little or no adverse effect.

With regard to the issues around relay training involving members of the MVP track team, Mr Fennell said there was little need for concern as the challenges had been dealt with and the training programme was on schedule. "In all groups you always have situations you have to deal with but I'm satisfied things are going well." 

He said he expected Jamaica to put on one of its best Olympics performances yet. "We have a very strong team and because we are the centre of attraction, we are also the centre of attack. We are always bearing that in mind and trying to make the right steps." Jamaica's athletes will be on parade at tomorrow's opening ceremony and will move into the Olympics village in Beijing on Monday, where final preparations will take place.