Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Grange, who leaves the island next Monday for China, said there is no fear factor in the Jamaican camp at this time. - File

Despite the occurrence of an earthquake and a bombing since the Jamaican team arrived in China for the Beijing Olympics, Minister of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia Grange, yesterday gave the assurance that the nation's athletes were safe.

"There is no fear factor in the Jamaican camp at this time," Grange told The Gleaner.

She noted that incidents of violence and disaster had taken place hundreds of miles away from Tianjin, where the national team was located.

Earlier this week, there were reports out of China that a terrorist attack in Xinjiang left 16 policemen dead and several others injured.

There were also reports of a massive aftershock in China's Sichuan province, which claimed the lives of three persons and injured at least 35. Thousands of homes were destroyed.

Reports are that the aftershock was one of thousands to hit the area since a massive earthquake in May, which left almost 70,000 people dead.

Grange, who leaves the island next Monday for China, said she has been in touch with chief of delegation, Don Anderson, and Ambassador to China, Wayne McCook.

"Based on my understanding, these incidents are of little concern to our athletes," she said. "The security arrangements around them and the camp have been very strict."

Grange further stated that the overall security for the games was highly sophisticated. She added that the Jamaican athletes are focused and have been training twice daily.

glenroy.sinclair@gleanerjm.com