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• Bahamian sports minister praises athletes who represented nation at Paris Olympics

  Bahamian Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg has congratulated Bahamian athletes on their performance at the recently concluded Paris Olympic Games.

  For the first time in 36 years, the nation failed to win a medal at the Olympics but, nevertheless, Bowleg has offered his congratulations to those who represented the country at the global athletics showcase, noting how difficult it is to even qualify to participate.

  “The Bahamas has a proud and storied history at the Olympics, and this year, our athletes continued to build on that rich tradition,” he said in a statement.

  “While winning medals is often seen as the pinnacle of success, it’s crucial to recognize that qualifying for the Olympics is an extraordinary achievement in itself. Only a small percentage of athletes worldwide earn the chance to compete on this prestigious stage. Reaching this level is a testament to the unparalleled dedication, sacrifice, and commitment of our Bahamian athletes,” he added.

  He continued, “becoming an Olympian is a monumental achievement in itself, regardless of whether one wins a medal. It reflects years of grit, sweat, hard work, and relentless training. Olympians are those who have earned the right to compete on the world’s most prestigious stage, displaying exceptional athletic prowess and representing the pinnacle of sportsmanship.”

  Bowleg specially congratulated Devynne Charlton who finished sixth in the Women's 100m hurdles final. The World Indoor champion and record holder was the only Bahamian to advance to a final.

  “She showed grit, determination, and true Bahamian spirit on that track. Keep shining and inspiring us all. Your journey is far from over.”

  He also praised Charisma Taylor for reaching the semi-finals in the 100m hurdles and Denisha Cartwright, whom he said has a promising future.

  The minister lauded swimmers Lamar Taylor and Rhanishka Gibbs for representing the nation in the aquatics events.

  He also praised returning Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, and made special mention of Ken Mullings, the first Bahamian decathlete, and Wayna McCoy, the first Bahamian to reach the 200m semi-final.

  Also recognized by Bowleg was Mancer Roberts Sr, technical director of Bahamas Aquatics, as the first Bahamian to serve as one of 26 officials in the swimming competition.

  He also noted that Bahamas Aquatics President Algernon Cargill presented medals to the 4x200m freestyle male relay winners, and former athlete Mike Sands presented medals to the men’s 400m and women’s triple jump finalists.

   

• 'We all should be proud': Sir Viv Richards praises Alfred, LaFond for historic Olympic Games accomplishments

  Antigua and Barbuda’s National Hero and iconic West Indies batsman, Sir Vivian Richards, has hailed the accomplishments of St. Lucia's Julien Alfred and Dominica's Thea LaFond at the just-concluded Paris Olympic Games.

  In fact, Richards, while sharing his excitement about the athletes' achievements, believes their historic feats are something that the entire Caribbean should be proud of, especially given the fact that both are from tiny islands with a combined population of 250,000.

  “We all should be proud, and I feel like I am them [athletes] on the podium too, because you can feel it [the pride] when they hold their hearts. This is just a special time, and you have to big them up because it’s huge, especially coming from small territories as we do at times, and being able to make an impact in the world, and you have the world media saying beautiful things about you; there is no better feeling,” Richards said on the Good Morning Jojo sports show.

  Alfred, 23, won gold in the women’s 100m in 10.72s, beating American Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning World Champion, who was heavily favoured to take the race. The feat delivered St. Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal, before Alfred added another when she placed second in the 200m in 22.08s

  Prior to Alfred's feat, LaFond again etched her name in history books for Dominica when she won triple jump gold with a leap of 15.02m. That was her country's first ever Olympic Games medal.

  The accomplishments of both Alfred and LaFond followed their exploits at the World Athletics Indoor Championships earlier this year, where they also won their respective events.

• Digicel delivers exciting Olympic Village to team Jamaica supporters

  Half-Way-Tree has long been the heartbeat of Jamaican celebrations, where people gather to cheer on our athletes as they make their mark on the global stage.

  This year, Digicel Jamaica partnered with fellow ‘red brands’, Red Stripe, Grace and KFC, to continue the tradition with even greater fanfare.

  The weeklong initiative formed part of the digital operator’s ‘One Jamaica’ campaign, aimed at uniting Jamaicans in a collective show of support for the nation’s athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

  

  “The Olympic Village brings us together as we continue to rise from the challenges of Hurricane Beryl,” said Chief Marketing Officer at Digicel Tari Lovell.

  “Digicel was eager to be part of something truly special to rally unity and cheer on our athletes. In times of challenge and celebration, we stand together as One Jamaica, and this Olympic season is no exception,” he added.