Sports Exhibition to Highlight Outstanding Achievements

On a day when the eyes of the world are on London, England, for the grand opening ceremony of the 30th Olympiad, the Government of Jamaica launched a sports exhibition that will highlight the nation’s most outstanding sports personalities, including some of those participating in the Olympics.

‘Jamaica Sports Exhibition: Showcasing The Journey’, was launched at Jamaica House with representatives from several of the island’s sporting bodies in attendance.

The exhibition, which will be opened at the National Arena on August 1, will feature seminal moments, institutions and outstanding sportsmen and women that have made Jamaica proud over the years.

Minister with responsibility for Sports in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, described the exhibition as “a landmark event for our Golden Jubilee celebrations”.

The Minister noted that even as “our athletes at the Games of the 30th Olympiad carry with them the hopes and aspirations of the entire nation, we are here showcasing aspects of that journey, which has taken Jamaica to the pinnacle in the world of sport."

Minister Neita-Headley reminded everyone that sports occupy pride of place in the national psyche and is a major contributor to the vibrancy and potency of ‘Brand Jamaica’.

"Showcasing our glorious heritage in sport, as this exhibition seeks to do, is an important way of recognising the contribution of our sporting heroes across the various disciplines and their contribution to bringing us to where we are today," the Minister said.

President of the Jamaica Paralympics Association, Christopher Samuda, who spoke on behalf of sports associations, said the groups welcome the exhibition, as it will record for posterity, the values that have invested and underpinned the success and victories of our countrymen and women.

"This sport exhibition," he stressed, “marks the commencement of a commemorative journey, which will capture our rich and very enviable history and heritage in sport and imprint the achievements and aspirations of the now and next generation of athletes and administrators."

Member of the National Sports Museum Committee, Kay Osbourne gave details of the sports exhibition, which will have video features as wells as artefacts, storyboards and graphic displays of Jamaica’s sporting journey.

She acknowledged the tremendous contribution of those who worked to make the exhibition a reality, noting that many persons contributed important artefacts, images and information. She assured them that these will be kept safe, under the supervision of the Institute of Jamaica.

Ms. Osbourne pointed out that Jamaica’s 11 medals at the Beijing Olympics, ranked the nation as first in the world when measured by million population. She noted that the exhibition is one way of honouring this achievement, along with honouring Jamaica’s outstanding performance in other sports.

“With this exhibition, we get a glimpse of our Jamaican sporting personalities, events and institutions that made Beijing 2008 and other Jamaican sports achievements possible,” Ms. Osbourne said.

The exhibition will have approximately nine modules. These include headings such as Jamdown Rules, Homo Ludens, Man the Player featuring “From Warrior Athlete to Modern Olympic” and “Quarri Was a bwai’;”  “Levelling The Field of Jamaican Athletics” featuring school athletic championship and Jamaican sporting legends; “An Island At Play”; “Our Destiny In Sports; Phenomenon 1”: We Likkle But..’ and ‘Phenomenon 2: Setting The Trend For The Future’.