Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller Congratulates Beijing Athletes and Alia Atkinson

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has congratulated Jamaicans Usain Bolt and O’Dayne Richards for their medal winning performances on day 2 of the IAAF World Athletics Championships now underway in Beijing, China and is commending all Jamaica’s athletes participating at the games.

In a statement, the Prime Minister said all the athletes who have participated in Beijing so far have done Jamaica proud. She added that Usain Bolt continues to inspire Jamaica and the world with his legendary performance on the track. “I salute Usain as a national brand ambassador extraordinaire, not only for taking the best of Jamaica to the world, but also for his superb representation of the best of athletics and sports in general,” she said.

The Prime Minister also had high praise for O’Dayne Richards, who won Jamaica’s first Shot Put medal at a World Championships after earning the bronze medal with national record of 21.69 metres. “All Jamaicans applaud O’Dayne most heartily for his signal achievement as he establishes Jamaica’s athletic prowess in another area of the sport,” she noted.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller said the latest medals for the Jamaicans follow the country’s continuing display of brilliance in another sport with Alia Atkinson’s gold medal performance in the 50 M breaststroke at the recent FINA Swimming World Cup in Paris, France and her silver medal and national record achievement in the 50 M as well as earning bronze in the 100 M at the recent FINA World Championships in Russia. “I extend heart-felt congratulations to Alia, who continues to make her country proud,” the Prime Minister said.