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• JOA President Samuda and Minister Grange express condolences following George Rhoden’s passing

  Jamaica's sporting community continues to mourn the passing of Olympic gold medalist George Rhoden on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at the age of 97. Rhoden, the last surviving member of Jamaica's legendary 4x400m relay team that won gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, leaves behind a legacy of excellence that has deeply impacted Jamaican athletics.

  In the wake of his passing, Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda and Jamaica’s Minister of Sport Olivia Grange have expressed their heartfelt condolences to Rhoden’s family, friends, and the wider athletic community.

  President Samuda reflected on Rhoden’s life with admiration, highlighting his commitment, resilience, and the pride he took in representing Jamaica on the global stage.

  “A life lived nobly and with national pride on the track. A Morgan State University alumnus, who studied and learnt lessons of commitment, resilience, and excellence which he exemplified in his golden exploits in the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games and preceding Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. A Jamaican who understood the value of legacy creation in sport as a critical element of nation building," Samuda said.

  He emphasized that Rhoden's life and achievements serve as an inspiration for future generations of athletes, illustrating that greatness is within reach for those who are determined.

  "Olympian George Rhoden has bequeathed, generously, to the athletic world a script that we can become what we will ourselves to be and that in any endeavour your footprints will blueprint the length and greatness of your stride," Samuda added.

  "My heartfelt regrets to his family who mourn his passing amidst a celebration of a life characterized by values in sport and a pilgrimage on the track, the end of which will continue to inspire the beginning of many a journey by youth."

  

  Minister Grange also paid tribute to Rhoden, recognizing his pivotal role in Jamaican track and field history and his enduring impact on the sport.

  “It’s so sad that Vincent George Rhoden, the last of the celebrated quartet that won the gold medal for Jamaica in the mile relay at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, has left us,” Minister Grange said.

  She recalled the historic victory of Rhoden and his teammates Herb McKenley, Les Laing, and Arthur Wint in Helsinki, where they not only won gold but set a new world record in the process.

  “The team of George Rhoden, Herb McKenley, Les Laing, and Arthur Wint took the gold in world record-breaking time in Helsinki. This they did after their disappointment in the London Olympics in 1948 when Arthur Wint pulled up in the race. Of note also is the fact that before the relay, George had beaten his close friend, Herb McKenley, to win the gold medal in the 400m,” Grange reflected.

  Minister Grange also pointed out Rhoden’s significant achievements prior to the Olympics, including his world record in the 400m in 1950, a performance that set the stage for Jamaica’s future successes in track and field.

  “There is no doubt that Vincent George Rhoden played his part in paving the way for future generations of Jamaican track athletes, who have certainly not let him down,” she said.

   Expressing her condolences, she added, “My most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, friends, and associates. A sprinter par excellence but whose long life was more like a marathon. Rest in peace, Vincent George Rhoden.”

  George Rhoden’s passing marks the end of an era for Jamaican athletics, but his legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of athletes as they strive to emulate his achievements and uphold the proud tradition of Jamaican excellence on the track.

   

   

   

   

• Cavalier SC, Mount Pleasant Academy set for opener of 2024 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup at Sabina Park

  Cavalier SC and Mount Pleasant Academy both expressed optimism ahead of their clash to open the 2024 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday.

  The two teams most recently met in a thrilling final of the Jamaica Premier League in May which Cavalier won 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out. 

  Head Coach of Cavalier, Rudolph Speid, doesn't expect that result to give his side a mental edge going into Tuesday's clash.

  "The phenomenon of this clash is that every time we meet, Mount Pleasant has a new team and we have a lot of changes. It's a new game all over and we just expect to win this particular game," he said in a pre-match press conference on Monday.

  The teams will compete in Group A of the ten-team tournament alongside fellow JPL outfit Arnett Gardens FC, Real Hope FC out of Haiti and Police FC out of Trinidad & Tobago.

  Cavalier were runners-up in last year’s inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, losing the two-legged final by a combined score of 3-0 to Surinamese outfit Robinhood FC.

  Something synonymous with Cavalier over the years is their willingness to use young players and Head Coach Rudolph Speid says this will continue to be the team’s policy going forward.

  “We don’t have much new faces. Some of the younger players from our youth teams are the ones that have stepped up. That has been our policy and our motto. Every single year, Cavalier will field young players who came through our ranks.”

  Despite this inexperience, Speid expects good things from his players when the time comes.

  “They know what to expect. Some of them have pretty big shoes to fill and I’m confident that they will do well,” he said.

  Trinidadian attacker Kaile Auvray, who joined Cavalier from Mount Pleasant recently, is hopeful that his insight on his former team will give them an added advantage tomorrow.

  “Obviously being a former Mount Pleasant player, I know my former teammates very well so I’ll be sure to communicate things that can help us be successful,” he said.

  On the other hand, this will be Mount Pleasant Academy’s first time competing in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, an achievement that is not lost on Head Coach Harold Thomas.

  “It’s been a long-awaited arrival for Mount Pleasant at this level. Our preparation has been relatively smooth. Short period of time but we were able to implement all the things we wanted to. We’re happy with where we are,” he said.

  “We are all excited as a club,” said Mount Pleasant skipper Sue-Lae McCalla about playing in their first CONCACAF Caribbean Cup.

  “It’s a good feeling. For a new club, the first time so it’s a lot of excitement for us,” he added.

  Normally, playing in a tournament of this magnitude for the first time would have a team feeling some pressure.

  For Coach Thomas, however, this is not the case.

  “Absolutely not,” was his response to questions about whether or not his team is feeling the pressure ahead of tomorrow’s game.

  “This is what we live for. For us, it’s just a matter of getting all things right,” he said.

• Jamaica and France sign landmark MOU for bilateral sports cooperation

  As the world eagerly anticipates the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Jamaica and France have marked the occasion with a significant step towards enhancing their bilateral relations in the field of sport. On July 24, the Honourable Olivia Grange, Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch, the Ambassador of France in Jamaica, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Bilateral Cooperation in Sport.

  Minister Grange highlighted the symbolic timing of the agreement, stating, “It is certainly significant that it is happening at the time of the 2024 Olympics in the French capital, Paris. It embodies the importance of sport in establishing cooperation and friendship between the two countries."

  The agreement outlines several areas of cooperation aimed at enhancing both nations' sports capabilities. One key aspect of the MOU is the sharing of experiences and the development of joint initiatives in sports. This includes promoting common standards for organizing major sporting events and developing high sports performance through the exchange of best practices, coaching training, and research.

  Additionally, the agreement focuses on boosting the sports economy and sports tourism in both countries by sharing valuable information and insights. A significant emphasis is also placed on promoting sports ethics, with both nations committing to collaborate in the fight against doping.

  Minister Grange commended the diligent efforts of Ambassador Guyonvarch and the teams from both the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in finalizing the MOU. She also referenced the ongoing friendship between Jamaica and France, demonstrated by events like the "2024 Road to Paris Olympics," which featured a symbolic relay baton passed globally and included French students from schools across Jamaica.

  The MOU also aims to facilitate exchanges in seminars, conferences, and symposia involving experts in various sports disciplines such as fencing, rugby, handball, athletics, canoe-kayak/sprint, sailing, and skateboarding, among others.

  Ambassador Guyonvarch expressed his enthusiasm about the agreement, stating, “On the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, the signing of this MOU on sports cooperation is a milestone in our bilateral relations, being the most ambitious and comprehensive agreement between our two countries in a strategic field of excellence. The implementation of this agreement, initiated by the Centre for Research on Sports Performance of Guadeloupe and the Faculty of Sports of UWI, will allow us to develop sports science, new practices, and more intense human exchanges between our two countries.”

  The follow-up on the cooperation outlined in the MOU will be ensured by a Bilateral Steering Committee, which will meet annually in either of the two countries, ensuring that the goals and initiatives set forth are actively pursued and achieved.

  This agreement not only strengthens the bond between Jamaica and France but also paves the way for enhanced sports performance, education, and ethical standards in both nations, promising a bright future for sports collaboration and excellence.