The hero’s welcome to St. Lucia for Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has continued on Thursday with more great gestures honouring the 23-year-old’s historic achievements on the track in 2024.

Alfred, who became her country’s first Olympic medallist when she sped to gold in Paris in August, has now been named as the official ambassador for St. Lucia’s tourism.

As tourism ambassador, she will participate in promotional events for St. Lucia in key markets globally, alongside conducting media engagements and advertising initiatives to promote the island and its marketing campaigns.

She will also engage in social media campaigns to highlight tourism in St. Lucia. A key feature of this collaboration is the co-branding of the prominent St. Lucia logo on Alfred's competition and warm-up kits.

This partnership is expected to enhance the island's visibility and establish Alfred as a contemporary global ambassador for St. Lucia.

In addition to this, a mural of the 2023 Bowerman Award winner was also unveiled at her alma mater, Ciceron Primary School.

PUMA, who sponsors Alfred, has also pledged to provide footwear for all students of the school by 2025.

This all comes a day after the Government of St. Lucia announced September 27 as ‘Julien Alfred Day.’

Alfred returned to St. Lucia on Tuesday for the first time since her history-making performances in Paris.

In addition to the 100m gold, Alfred also took silver behind American Gabby Thomas in the 200m.

This came after earlier in the season when Alfred took home 60m gold at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March.

Alfred’s celebrations are set to continue until October 2.

Joanna Alfred is a proud mother, and it is clear for all to see.

But while she basks in the accomplishments of her daughter Julien Alfred and the recognition that comes with having a historic double Olympic medallist in the family, the senior Alfred used the opportunity to remind aspiring athletes that they too can become a national hero like her daughter.

“Yes, she is one of the biggest heroes today because of where she came from and where she started. And I also want children to learn from that and understand that it doesn't matter where you come from; you can still be where Julien Alfred is,” a beaming Joanna said as the island continues to celebrate her daughter's homecoming.

Having come from humble beginnings in Ciceron, situated in St Lucia’s capital Castries, Alfred honed her talent overtime and rose through the ranks on her way to copping an historic 100m gold and 200m silver at the Paris Olympic Games in August. Prior to that, she became the first St Lucian to win a World Indoor 60m title.

Those accomplishments followed an impressive NCAA campaign in which she copped the NCAA indoor 60m and 200m titles, as well as the outdoor honours over 100m and 200m. She was also the 2023 Bowerman Award winner, the prize given to the outstanding collegiate track and field athlete each year.

While the journey was by no means easy for either Alfred or her family, Joanna pointed to one thing in particular that assisted her daughter along the way –parental support.

“You can support your child. God will do the rest. So everything's going to fall into place,” she declared.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and indeed it does because if I didn't have the support of at least Twa Ti Ney [Julien’s local coach, Cuthbert Modeste] when her father passed, he became the father figure in this young lady’s life, then again I would have to struggle, so it took a village to raise a child as well,” Joanna shared.

Beyond the background support, Joanna pointed out that Alfred’s grit, determination, and unflinching desire to become a successful athlete were the foundation on which she rose to prominence and inevitably became the sprint queen of the island with a population of just about 180,000 people.

“It was not the food on her plate but the food in her mind that really encouraged her because even when she faced situations, the food in her mind really encouraged her to be where she is,” Joanna declared.

In a move to demonstrate its commitment to good governance, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Board has taken a decision to suspend the membership privileges of the parishes of Trelawny and St Thomas for failing to comply with a directive of Congress for all parish elections to have taken place by August 31, 2024.

The JFF, in a release on Thursday, stated that the suspension of membership privileges will remain until the parishes have their elections, and the process is satisfactory to the JFF Board.

It also pointed out that should the elections not be held by the next board meeting, then further actions will be considered if necessary. 

This action was taken under the provisions of Article 16 (Member obligation) and Article 17 (Suspension) of the JFF Constitution. 

“The JFF is committed to good governance and transparency and wants to ensure that the wider football membership is the beneficiary of that good governance,” the statement said.

The release also noted that the election for Trelawny has been set for October 12th, 2024.

Real Hope FA and Arnett Gardens FC played to a scoreless draw in Group A of the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Jeudy Jhonson attempted to score inside the box in the 33', but Arnett Gardens defender Alton Lewis was there for a crucial block.

The two teams exchanged opportunities in the 45'+3 as Peterson Pierre blocked an attempt from Kimani Arbouine. Steeve Mondestin was denied on the other end by Arnett Gardens goalkeeper Asher Hutchinson.

Jaheim Thomas had a look from outside the box in the 54', but Real Hope goalkeeper Gooly Elien got both hands on the attempt.

Watz Leazard had one of the best looks of the night in the 60' with a header on goal but Hutchinson was there for the timely denial.

Edgar Castellanos Ruiz was denied from outside the box in the 77' as Shane Watson closed in to cause a deflection.

Rushike Kelson struck from the edge of the box in the 86’, but Elien made another save.

Marlon Allen had a right-footed effort inside the box in the 90'+5, but Elien blocked the attempt to preserve his clean sheet.

Real Hope FA improved to five points to maintain its second place standing in the group. The Haitian club will face Mount Pleasant next Thursday and can advance to the semifinals with a victory.

Arnett Gardens is unable to advance to the semifinals with the draw. The Jamaican side will seek to end its campaign with a victory in its final group stage encounter against Cavalier FC next Thursday.

Jamaican track and field icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce expressed her deep gratitude after learning about the impact she had on New Zealand rugby sevens player Michaela Blyde, who recently revealed how much Fraser-Pryce inspired her growing up. Speaking with Sportsmax.TV at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday, following her Pocket Rocket Foundation’s scholarship ceremony, Fraser-Pryce reflected on her meeting with Blyde during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“That was such a touching moment for me,” Fraser-Pryce said, recalling their encounter. “I was trying to keep a low profile, and it wasn’t low at all. But when I met her, just her presence and how she spoke of me really put things in perspective for me as an athlete. It reminded me of what I’ve been able to accomplish and how others are inspired by that. It’s why I continue to do what I do because I know there are athletes out there who need that inspiration.”

Blyde, a key player for New Zealand’s national rugby sevens team, had previously opened up about how Fraser-Pryce motivated her to dream of winning Olympic gold medals in the 100m and 200m. Meeting the Jamaican sprint queen at the Paris Olympics, she said, was life-changing. Blyde shared that she had long admired Fraser-Pryce, describing the experience as “the greatest thing that happened to her.”

Fraser-Pryce, moved by Blyde’s comments, spoke about how athletes like Blyde remind her of the broader influence she has. “There are athletes out there who can take something from your journey, and it’s truly remarkable to witness that with her. To have that friendship and bond is something special.”

In an unexpected but meaningful gesture, Fraser-Pryce attended one of Blyde’s rugby matches during the Olympic Games, marking her first time watching another sport in person at the Olympics. “Never in my entire Olympic journey have I attended any other sport. It was my first time going to another sport, and just watching the reaction from the athlete made me proud. I’m truly humbled and grateful to God for the platform He has given me and how much I’ve been able to carry, not just myself but also the national flag.”

Fraser-Pryce highlighted the significance of the moment, not just for herself, but for all Jamaicans. “It’s truly a moment not just for me, but I think for all Jamaicans to know that even though we’re a tiny dot on the map, we’re huge when it comes to our impact. People look up to us, they emulate us, and they want to be like us.”

Blyde’s emotional response to Fraser-Pryce’s presence at her match against China made the encounter even more memorable. "Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is actually the reason why I wanted to win gold in the 100m and 200m at the Olympic Games. That was my initial Olympic dream,” Blyde said in an interview. “When I saw her in person, my whole soul left my body and was watching me from above. And then she said, ‘I’ll come watch you play.’ I never imagined it would actually happen.”

Blyde recounted how surreal it felt hearing her name called from the stands during the match. “After our game against China, I heard someone calling, ‘Michaela,’ and I was like, ‘Wait, I recognize that voice.’ I looked over, and there was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, watching us play. It’s a memory I will never forget.”

The mutual admiration between the two athletes highlights the far-reaching influence of Fraser-Pryce, whose career continues to inspire athletes across various sports around the world.

Guyana Amazon Warriors helped their chances of securing a top two finish in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by inflicting a 47-run defeat on Barbados Royals Wednesday night. The Royals would have been hopeful for a top of the table finish too given their earlier form in the competition but a third defeat for them in recent matches means they may have to settle for third or fourth place and a harder path to the title.

Royals captain Rovman Powell won the toss on what looked a fantastic batting wicket and opted to insert the opposition. The pitch was conducive to stroke-play and despite the early loss of Rahmanullah Gurbaz the Warriors cashed in, posting an imposing 219-8 off their 20 overs.

At one point, when Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer were in full flow and displaying some mouth-watering stroke play it very much looked like a bigger total would be in the offing for the Warriors but after the two experienced hands fell before the end (for 71 off 37 balls and 57 off 34 balls respectively) the Royals managed to peg the defending champions back in the final five overs. Maheesh Theeskhana the pick of the Royals bowlers with an economical and wicket-taking spell of 3-15.

So consistent in the earlier stages of the competition, the Royals’ batting card failed to fire in response. Moeen Ali pinned talisman Quinton de Kock lbw for 35 and Imran Tahir sprinting off into the outfield in customary celebration with the key wicket of Powell.

David Miller, unbeaten on 71, offered some resistance in the Royals middle order and played some audacious strokes at the back end to take him to a battling half century but wickets continuously fell all around him as the Warriors spin attack used the scoreboard pressure to their advantage and piled on the pain. A score of 172-9 at the close meant the Royals finished comfortably short and the Warriors were never in trouble.

Moeen Ali continued his fine tournament with the ball by claiming 2-16 and fellow spinner Gudakesh Motie was more expensive but pocketed three wickets. The Warriors are finding form in both departments as the competition heads into its final phase.

David Miller’s pyrotechnics once the result had effectively been decided meant the final scorecard wasn’t as grim as it could have been for the Royals but they have plenty to put right after a chastening defeat to their fellow title hopefuls.

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and long-time youth cricket sponsor Kingston Wharves have teamed up to award two deserving Under-19 cricketers full scholarships for their tertiary education at the University of the West Indies (UWI). The scholarships were recently presented at the JCA office at Sabina Park in Kingston.

The JCA highlighted the spectacular success of the Under-19 team, led by captain Brian Barnes and Steven Wedderburn. The team captured both regional championship trophies available in 2023. The idea for the scholarships arose from a desire to properly reward these talented cricketers while supporting their educational goals, ensuring they could continue playing the game at a high level.

JCA President Dr. Donovan Bennett welcomed the partnership with Kingston Wharves in awarding the scholarships. "We are very grateful at the JCA that Kingston Wharves has made this offer. It allows cricketers who have also excelled academically to be recognized and supported, helping them to enhance their life skills," he said.

Dr. Bennett also spoke about the process of determining the scholarship winners. "We had a joint committee with participation from both Kingston Wharves and the JCA. We invited applications, and after a thorough assessment process, the committee made the final recommendations."

The two awardees, Barnes and Wedderburn, along with their family members and coaches, were thrilled to receive the scholarships.

"I feel elated and honoured," said Barnes. "I'm just happy that both of us are being recognized with this scholarship."

Wedderburn echoed similar sentiments, stating, "I feel pretty elated because this is an honor. It's a result of hard work and dedication, and I feel great about receiving this award."

Kingston Wharves, the financial backer of the scholarships, was represented by Business Development Manager Alfred McDonald, who spoke about the company's commitment to supporting student-athletes. "We are focused on ensuring that those playing the sport are also excelling academically. We've seen their journey, and we want to support it. By providing funds—around $300,000 to $500,000 per annum for each of them—we believe this assistance will propel them to do their best both on the field and in school," McDonald said.

Simone Murdock, Corporate Services and Client Experience Manager at Kingston Wharves, who sat on the scholarship selection committee, expressed the company’s satisfaction with the selection process and the quality of the two recipients. "Our commitment is to see these young men through to the completion of their degrees. At that time, the company will reassess, as there might be greater needs in three years. For now, our focus is on helping them complete their degree program, and we will evaluate what further support is needed for cricket development afterward," Murdock said.

Barnes and Wedderburn will be pursuing marketing degrees at UWI, a program expected to last four years.