Minister Grange Invites American Friends of Jamaica to be Partners on Jamaica’s Sports Development ‘Project’

The Honourable Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the development of sports in Jamaica and among Jamaicans.
Miss Grange was addressing the American Friends of Jamaica 27th Annual Benefit Gala and Auction which honoured former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Lennox Lewis in New York last night.
“Sporting Activities can bring great economic benefit. My Ministry is now engaged in the creation of a National Sports Policy that will ensure that the right issues, concerns, strategies and programmes are developed to enhance the final product,” Minister Grange told the gathering. She invited the American Friends of Jamaica to “partner with us in this project.”
She said that Sports will play a part in the advancement of “Brand Jamaica and the in the development of our society.”
Minister Grange said that sports also had the potential to unite communities and nations. “The communities across the island and the Jamaican Diaspora were decked out in national colours as they celebrated Jamaica’s achievements in Beijing.”
She expressed appreciation to the American Friends of Jamaica and congratulated the organisation for raising more than eleven-million US dollars over the years to assist communities and individuals in Jamaica.
Minister Grange said that Lennox Lewis thoroughly deserved to be honoured by the American Friends of Jamaica because he “exemplifies the resilience and determination of the Jamaica spirit over the many years in which he has been a leader of his sport. He has never forgotten his homeland and at all times wears Jamaica’s colours proudly.”
Minister Grange is on a two-day visit to New York.