Country Honours Olympians Oct. 14 – 18

Thursday, October 14 marks the beginning of the official programme of events for the nation’s celebration of the victorious 2004 Athens Olympic team and the Paraolympians, organized by the Government of Jamaica.
The eagerly awaited celebration will be held over four days from October 14 to October 18, at different venues in Kingston, Montego Bay and Trelawny.
On the first day, activities will include the athletes arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport and a motorcade through the streets of Kingston. They will arrive at 1:10 p.m. at the airport and will be greeted by a welcoming party consisting of the Minister of Sport, Portia Simpson Miller, Senator Delano Franklyn, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and other officials.
The motorcade begins at 2:00 p.m. from the airport along Windward Road, Victoria Avenue, East Queen Street, north on Duke Street, Heroes Circle, Marescaux Road, Caledonia Avenue, Tom Redcam Avenue, Oxford Road, Half-Way-Tree Road, Balmoral Avenue, right on Skibo Avenue, right on Cargill Avenue, left on Half-Way-Tree Road, left at York Pharmacy, right on Eastwood Park Road to Red Hills Road, and right onto Constant Spring Road.
From there the motorcade will travel to Half-Way-Tree, left on Suthermere Road, left on Hope Road, north to Matilda’s Corner, right on Old Hope Road, south onto Mountain View Avenue to Statue Road, right on Statue Road at Nannyville and into the Marathon entrance into the National Stadium at 5:00 p.m.
At the free Cultural Salute, which gets underway at 5:00 p.m., Prime Minister P.J. Patterson will deliver the main address. Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga and Minister Simpson Miller will also address the patrons.
The crowd will be treated to performances by Karen Smith, D.Y.C.R., the Jamaica Military Band, dance troupes and other artistes.
On Friday, October 15, the athletes will visit their respective schools, taking part in activities planned by each school. In the evening, the Prime Minister will host the athletes at a reception at Jamaica House, where he will hand out the cash incentives, which have been provided by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund for Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists at the Olympics.
This will see individuals who won bronze, silver and gold medals being awarded US$6,000, US$8,000 and US$12,000, respectively.
The athletes will journey to Montego Bay on October 16, where they will participate in a motorcade and a civic reception at Sam Sharpe Square. On Sunday, October 17 they will attend a church service at the William Knibb Baptist Church in Trelawny.
Monday, October 18 (National Heroes Day), will bring the days of celebration to a close and the Floral Tribute to the National Heroes will be the highlight of the day. The Tribute will begin at 4:00 p.m. at National Heroes Park in Kingston.