Asafa Powell makes time for a few of his little fans after he ran in the Milo Western Relays at G.C. Foster College last year. - file
Former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell will, on November 4, launch his very own charitable foundation - The Asafa Powell Foundation - aimed at assisting with the development of track and field in Jamaica. The venue for the launch will be announced this week.
Powell, who burst on to the international scene in 2003, said for a long time he considered starting a charity to give back to the sport that has helped make him famous. "I've always wanted to start a foundation that would help with the development of track and field in Jamaica," he said yesterday during a telephone interview.
The foundation comprises Powell, the third fastest man of all time, his brother Nigel, and former world junior champion Nikole Mullings née Mitchell. But while it is yet to be launched, Powell said they have already begun planning the first event, scheduled for November 28, five days after his 27th birthday, at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
"It's going to be a nice evening catering to a mixed audience," said Powell, the 2006 Commonwealth Games champion. "We are going for people like Tarrus Riley, Barrington Levy and Beres Hammond."
Entertainers excited
He revealed that while most of the acts have not yet been confirmed, the entertainers already contacted are very excited about the opportunity and some are checking their schedules to see if they will be available for the event.
Powell said the money raised from the event will go into areas of the sport that require development but he was unable to be more specific. "We are not 100 per cent certain what areas yet. We are going to decide before the event and we will make it public eventually," he said, adding that the foundation will also be venturing into other fund-raising projects. Money raised from these projects will go towards helping the sport.
Powell won the bronze medal in the 100 metres at the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, in August, despite battling all season to overcome a painful injury to his ankle. He is also a two-time gold medallist as a member of the world record setting national 4x100-metre relay team.
He has run under 10 seconds on a record 60 occasions, and under 9.90 seconds 29 times, also a record. He is one of three men to legally run under 9.80 seven times, the other two being countryman Usain Bolt, the world record holder, and Tyson Gay, the American champion.
In 2008, Powell, who attended Charlemount High School in St Catherine, was conferred with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class, for his exploits in track and field and for winning his first major gold medal at the 29th Olympics in Beijing, China, that year.