President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, will, for the first time, set foot on the soil of Jamaica as he pays an official and historic visit to the island.
Mr Bach is set to arrive in Jamaica late Friday.
During his brief visit, the world governing Olympic body’s head will undertake a hectic schedule and President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, (JOA), Christopher Samuda, expects a very successful visit.
“President Bach’s engagement will serve to deepen and embolden our continuing commitment to the values of Olympism as a way of life in sport while providing a welcomed opportunity for an interface with members of the local Olympic family,” said Samuda.
In July 2018, a petal from the flame of the cauldron of the 2012 London Olympic Games was established at the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay by the current JOA administration “as a landmark embodying the ideals of a global sport movement, giving earnest hope to the burning aspirations of Jamaica’s sportsmen and women in their pursuit of excellence and kindling the ambitious light of our youth to emulate” JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster, said.
At the heart of the President Bach’s visit will undoubtedly be fraternal unity as the top brass of the JOA and IOC executives meet on common ground in advancing the Olympic agenda.
“A meeting of the minds in sport, a mutuality of purpose and will and commonality of values will characterize discussions and anchor outcomes” President Samuda stated.
President Bach, a Montreal 1976 Olympic Games gold medalist in the discipline of foil in fencing and a lawyer by profession, will depart the island with his delegation on March 5 on the way to the Dominican Republic after “what we have every confidence will be a milestone in Jamaica’s Olympic experience” Secretary General Foster concluded.
Jamaica’s five-time World 100m Champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce says breaking the 100m World Record remains one of her goals as she enters the twilight of her career.
The 36-year-old has a personal best of 10.60 set at the Lausanne Diamond League in 2021 and is coming off a remarkable 2022 season that saw her run below 10.7 a record seven times, including a 10.67 to win her fifth World Championships gold medal in Eugene in July.
“I want to run 10.5 or 10.4. I’m working towards that, but I also don’t want it to be the end-all, be-all,” the three-time Olympic gold medallist said in an interview with NBC Sports.
“I’ll be satisfied knowing that I gave 100% towards that effort. Being able to push myself beyond something that a lot of people think is impossible has given me wings beneath my feet. I don’t want to limit myself. I want to think about potential and where I can go with that,” Fraser-Pryce added.
The Women’s 100m World Record currently stands at 10.49 set by American Florence Griffith-Joyner at the US Olympic Trials all the way back in 1988.
Since then, only Fraser-Pryce’s countrywoman, five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, has run below 10.6 when she clocked 10.54 to win at the Prefontaine Classic in 2021.
Jamaica’s ex-WBA world featherweight champion Nicholas ‘Axe Man’ Walters ended more than six years of semi-retirement with a dominant points win over Colombian Luis Diaz Marmol in Santa Marta, Colombia on Saturday night.
Returning in a weight class 14 pounds above his title-winning featherweight division, Walters earned the unanimous decision over local favourite Marmol in the eight-round super lightweight (140-pound) main event. The official scorecard read 80-72 and 78-74 twice in favour of the 37-year-old from Montego Bay.
“Marmol was very game but the overall experience and skill level of Walters was the difference,” Fightnews web site reported about the Panama-based Jamaican.
“He did not show much effects of ring inactivity as he was in complete control.”
With the result, Walters improves his ring record to 27 wins (21 kos) against one loss and one draw and the 29-year-old Marmol’s log dips to 19 wins (11 kos) against 17 losses.
Walters said recently he was encouraged to return to the ring by several trainers in Panama. He had been visiting the boxing gym to keep in shape but admits he “wasn’t really serious about fighting” until experts around the gym encouraged him to come out of retirement.
Walters became the first Jamaican ever to win a world boxing title at home when he beat Colombian Daulis Prescott for the WBA’s 126-pound belt in December 2012 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.
Saturday night’s outing was his first since November 20, 2016, when he quit against Vasiliy Lomachenko after being dominated by the outstanding Ukrainian for seven rounds in Nevada, USA.
Walters had turned pro in 2008 after an amateur career that included bronze at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and two gold medals at the Caribbean Championships in 2005 and 2006. Within a few years he became one of the world’s most exciting fighters of the lower weight divisions after defeating big names like Nonito Donaire and Vic Darchinyan.
Akeem Blake and Tina Clayton won the respective 60m titles at the Gibson/McCook Relays at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Clayton, a two-time World Junior 100m champion and in her first professional season, ran a personal best 7.02 to win the Women’s section ahead of Sashalee Forbes (7.03) and Kerrica Hill (7.10).
Remona Burchell won a windy B final in 7.04 ahead of Tia Clayton (7.05) and Jodean Williams (7.16).
Blake, a semi-finalist in the 100m at the 2022 World Championships, ran a personal best 6.42 to win the Men’s section ahead of Oblique Seville (6.42) and Zharnel Hughes (6.45). 2011 World 100m Champion Yohan Blake was fourth in 6.45.
More than 60 golfers teed-off at the Caymanas Golf Club in St Catherine for the first Jamaica Golf Association's (JGA) qualifier for 2023.
Tee-time was 7:30 am.
A special feature of this year's tournament is that the eight competitors in the Men & Men Senior 0-6 (WAGR) category will play 54 holes over the two days in a bid to gain world amateur golf ranking points.
The Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) got approval last year to play 54 holes over two days instead of the normal three days in order to gain ranking points from the R&A and the USGA (Royal & Ancient Golf Club, Unites States Golf Association).
This will allow them earn ranking points quickly and able to participate in more tournaments across the region and the world that are open to ranked golfers.
Two of the local golfers that have world golf ranking points are Justin Burrowes (347) and William Knibbs (741). Both were invited to play in this year's Latin America Amateur Golf Championships in January as the two highest ranked amateur golfers in Jamaica at the time.
In this weekend’s tournament Burrowes, who is the defending champion, expects to be tested by the format.
"I am looking forward to get going this weekend. I haven't played a 54-hole tournament in two days since this tournament last year so I am looking forward to the test,” he said.
“Expectation-wise I try to keep it very simple. I just want to go out and execute as best as possible and count the scores at the end. It’s going to be long but I think it provides a good test and it will show me where my game is at and where I need to improve on.
“I feel like I have worked on some of the areas where I have been weak on in the last six months so I am looking forward to put that to the test in a tournament and we will see how that goes."
The other six golfers who will compete in the Men & Men Senior category are Sean Morris, Zandre Roye, Trey Williams, Tenny Davis, Robert Sterling and Wayne Chai-Chong.
Roye and Knibbs placed second and third, respectively, in last year's tournament.
The remainder of the golfers on the course will play 36 holes over the two days.
The will play in several categories including Men & Men Senior 0-6, Men & Men Senior 7-12, Men & Men Senior 13-24, Men Super Senior 0-12, Men Super Senior 13-24, Masters, Junior Boys 18 and Under, Junior Boys 14-15 and Junior Boys 11-13.
Jodie Mun-Barrow is the defending Ladies champion.
Despite another decent display, Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz suffered their third straight defeat in the FFA Nations Cup going down 3-0 to hosts Australia on Wednesday at the Newcastle International Sports Centre.
The victory for Australia meant that Australia would win the trophy in the four-team tournament that also involved Spain and the Czech Republic.
Goals from Katrina Gorry, Alex Chidiac and Caitlin Foord settled the matter for Australia against the Caribbean team that played well enough but for the second of three matches, failed to find the net.
The Reggae Girlz started well with Jody Brown, Spence and Kayla McCoy-McKenna posing threats that Australia managed to thwart. In defence, especially in the first quarter of the match, Jamaica were organized, repelling Australia’s attacks with aplomb.
Australia, however, broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a 25m rocket from Gorry that flew past Rebecca Spencer in the Jamaica goal.
Growing in confidence, the hosts took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Australia would double their lead in the 56th minute after a brilliant build up that saw Gorry take the ball to the byline before pulling it back to Chidiac who beats two defenders and power the ball into the roof of the net from five metres.
Australia sealed the issue in the 69th when Foord and Sam Kerr execute a 1-2 pass at the edge of the box around Jamaica’s defence after which Foord curled one from 20m past Spencer.
Jody Brown was denied a consolation three minutes from time when goalkeeper Arnold parried her shot from just inside the box around the upright.
Jamaica’s U17 Reggae Boyz were eliminated from the CONCACAF U17 Championships on Saturday night, going down 2-1 in a hard-fought game against hosts Guatemala.
With the winner to earn a place in the quarter-finals, Guatemala assumed the early advantage when Selvin Sagastume put them 1-0 up in the 32nd minute, a lead that would last until the half-time break.
Jamaica would pull level in the 54th minute when Ronaldo Barrett scored from a free kick.
However, as has been the case in all their previous matches, Jamaica conceded a late goal. That problem cost them three points against Guadeloupe and two points against Costa Rica.
On Saturday night, Gabino Vasquez’s 77th minute strike cost them a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, the USA drubbed the Dominican Republic 7-0 in their encounter in Antigua.
Christopher Aquino scored in the 22nd and 30th minutes to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Keyrol Figueroa then scored just before the break to give the US a 3-0 lead. Figueroa added his second and the USA’s fourth in the 57th before Micah Burton added a fifth in the 62nd.
Ezekiel Soto scored the third brace of the day for the U.S., with goals in the 83’ and 90’ to round out the 7-0 scoreline.
In the nightcap in Antigua, Canada ended Haiti’s hopes of a quarter-final spot by handing them a 3-0 defeat.
Antoine Sedar N Diaye opened the scoring in the fourth-minute of play and Lucas Ozimec netted in the 16th as Canada took a 2-0 lead within the first 20-minutes.
Erik Pop scored in the 88th to complete the victory.
Before the completion of the 60m final at 2023 Millrose Games at the Armory in New York on Saturday, February 11, not many Jamaicans would have known about Travis Williams.
Ten-man Jamaica managed to hold on for a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica in Guatemala City on Thursday night and book a spot in the round of 16 in the CONCACAC U17 Championships.
Needing a draw or victory to advance, Jamaica helped in part by Cuba’s 4-0 drubbing of Guadeloupe on Wednesday, took a 1-0 lead into the break courtesy of goals from Alevavier Gooden in the 17th minute.
Adrian Reid doubled the young Reggae Boyz’s lead in the 62nd minute.
However, Gooden was sent off in the 73rd minute giving The Ticos, a man advantage in the final 17 minutes. They took advantage when minutes later when Roy Bustos netted in the 79th to make it 2-1 with 11 minutes to go in regulation.
Struggling from playing a man short, the young Reggae Boyz conceded a second when Sean Albriton found the back of the net in the 87th minute.
The result meant Jamaica finished second in Group G with four points behind Costa Rica and are set to face hosts Guatemala in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, in Group H action, Honduras defeated Haiti 1-0 courtesy of Russel Cruz’s goal in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
With the result, Honduras top the group with a perfect nine points from three games, while Haiti finished in third-place and a place in the next round.
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Spain in their opening match of the Cup of Nations at Central Coast Stadium in Australia on Thursday.
Jamaica’s U17 team conceded two goals in the final 15 minutes to go down 2-1 to Guadeloupe in Group G action in the 2023 CONCACAF U17 Championships on Tuesday.
In the match played at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guadeloupe rally from a late 1-0 deficit to edge Jamaica 2-1.
Ronaldo Barrett had the Reggae Boyz in front 1-0 in the 41st minute, a lead that held until the final quarter-hour.
The Guadeloupe comeback started in the 78th minute when Willan Jacques found an equalizer to make it 1-1.
Les Gwada Boyz then got the winning goal in the 90th minute courtesy of Ylan Moloza for their first three points of the tournament.
Come Thursday, Jamaica must make sure to avoid a loss against Costa Rica in order to not be overtaken by Cuba and Guadeloupe in the standings.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica blanked Cuba 4-0 in the final game of the night.
The Ticos enjoyed a strong first half-hour, with goals from Roy Bustos (4’), Andryk Sandi (11’) and Victor Maroto (21’) giving Costa Rica a 3-0 halftime lead.
Akheem Wilson would tack on the fourth and final goal of the night for the Central Americans in the 79th to complete the 4-0 scoreline, sealing a place for his side in the Round of 16.
Over in Group H, Haiti 3 completed an emphatic 3-0 win over Suriname.
The Estadio Pensativo in Antigua was once again the spot for the games in Group H and it proved to be a happy day for Haiti, who defeated Suriname 3-0 for their first win of the CMU17.
All three goals came in the second half courtesy of Sebatien Joseph (53’), Schneilorens Lebrun (57’) and Samuel Lamare (83’).
In the other group game, Honduras defeated El Salvador 4-1.
In a duel of Central American rivals in the group’s second game, Honduras emerged victorious 4-1 over El Salvador thanks in part to three first half goals.
Edwin Munguia (15’) and Jordan Garcia (27’) gave Honduras a 2-0 advantage, only for El Salvador to pull one back in the 36’ through Christopher Argueta.
Honduras would answer, though, right before halftime in the 45+1’ thanks to David Herrera and then add a second half goal from Nayrobi Vargas in the 64’ for the 4-1 final.
With the result, Honduras have qualified for the knockout stage.
Jamaica opened their campaign in the CONCACAF U17 tournament with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Cuba at the Doroteo Guamuch Flores Stadium in Guatemala City on Sunday.
Playing 4-4-2, Jamaica opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Jahmani Bell buried a volley from inside the box.
The score remained 1-0 until half time.
Orane Watson doubled Jamaica’s lead in the 56th minute before Ashton Gordon put the side up 3-0 in the 70th minute.
Watson put the match beyond the Cubans in the 75th minute to give the Jamaicans a 4-0 lead.
Cuba were never without a fight, however, and got a consolation in the 78th through Didier Reinoso who scored a second in the 89th.
The win means Jamaica temporarily go top of Group G that also has Costa Rica and Guadeloupe.
Costa Rica will take on Guadeloupe later Sunday.
President of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association, Nicole Grant, is excited about the association’s ongoing partnership with Supreme Ventures that, she hopes, will help Jamaica conquer the world of Gymnastics in the future.
The Supreme Ventures Gymnastics Classic and National Trials will take place at the Jamaica School of Gymnastics in Kingston from February 11-12.
The juniors will be vying for one spot at the Junior World Championships scheduled for March 25-April 3 in Antalya, Turkey.
The seniors will be vying for five spots at the Pan Am Championships scheduled for Medellin, Colombia from May 22-29. The Pan Am Championships will serve as a qualifier for this year’s Pan Am Games scheduled for October 6-October 22 in Santiago, Chile as well as the World Championships scheduled for Antwerp, Belgium from September 29-October 8. This year’s World Championships will be used as a qualifier for next year’s Paris Olympics.
For the second year in a row, Supreme Ventures, through the connection made by the Jamaica Olympic Association, has signed on as the sponsor for the event, something that Grant is very thankful for.
“We have always been in a partnership with the Jamaica Olympic Association as we are affiliated. In Jamaica, we are a minor sport so the JOA has really helped us form these kinds of partnerships,” Grant said ahead of day one of the trials on Saturday.
“They connected us with Supreme Ventures and they were quite happy with what they saw last year. We did not disappoint them and, as a result, they have come on board for the second year in a row to work with us,” she added.
When asked what she expects from the athletes on display this weekend, Grant encouraged them to show spirit, noting that winning does not mean you will make the respective teams.
“I expect the girls to do the best that they can and show us what they have. Show us how they can fight because when you go out to major competitions you must have that fight,” Grant said.
“We want to see that. You do not necessarily have to win for us to select you. We have a selection process that we use but we want to see what you have to offer or what you are capable of,” she added.
Jamaica's reigning 800m champion Chrisann Gordon-Powell is pregnant.
Jamaica will face Lebanon in World Group II of the Davis Cup after the draw at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) office in London on Thursday.
The Jamaicans advanced to World Group II after defeating Estonia 3-2 in a playoff tie at the Eric Bell National Tennis Centre in Kingston from February 4-5.
Lebanon fell into World Group II, where they will ne the seventh seed, after losing 3-1 to Ukraine in the Group I playoffs on February 2-3 in Poland.
The tie will be played in September and is a Lebanon home fixture.
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