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• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Yona Knight-Wisdom named team captains: Ricketts and Kirlew flagbearers for Jamaica at 2024 Paris Olympics

  In a significant announcement ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Jamaica Olympic Association revealed that sprinting legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and diver Yona Knight-Wisdom will serve as the team captains for Jamaica's Olympic squad. The Games, set to commence in a week's time, will see these distinguished athletes leading their compatriots as they aim for glory on the world stage.

  Fraser-Pryce, a decorated sprinter and one of the most recognizable figures in track and field, will be competing in her fifth Olympic Games. The 37-year-old has an illustrious history, having been the first Jamaica woman to win the Olympic 100m gold medal in 2008, a feat she repeated in 2012. She also claimed bronze in the 100m at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games, solidifying her status as one of the all-time greats in her sport. Fraser-Pryce now sets her sights on an unprecedented fifth consecutive Olympic 100m medal, a testament to her enduring excellence.

  Joining Fraser-Pryce as a leader is Yona Knight-Wisdom, who made history by becoming the first male diver to represent Jamaica at the Olympics during the 2016 Rio Games. The 29-year-old also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games, which took place in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Knight-Wisdom's pioneering spirit and dedication have paved the way for future generations of Jamaican divers.

  

  In addition to the captains, the Jamaica Olympic Association has announced that veteran triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts and British-born swimmer Josh Kirlew will have the honour of being flag bearers at the opening ceremony on July 26.

  Ricketts, a two-time world championship silver medalist, narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal with a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Games. She is determined to clinch her first Olympic medal in Paris.

  Kirlew, a 24-year-old swimmer, will be making his Olympic debut in Paris. As a rising star in Jamaican swimming, he represents the next generation of athletes poised to make their mark on the global stage.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• BAAA President hits out at BOC’s decision to deny Lacarthea Cooper Olympic spot

  President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, Drumeco Archer, has hit out at the Bahamas Olympic Committee’s decision to deny Lacarthea Cooper a chance to compete at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

  Cooper, a student at New Mexico Junior College, was originally a part of the BAAA’s recommended list of athletes to go to Paris, according to Archer, but was removed by the BOC in favor of Shania Adderley.

  The 20-year-old Cooper placed third in the 400m final at the Bahamian National Championships in Nassau on June 28 while Adderley, 16, finished fifth.

  The rationale given by BOC President, Romell Knowles, at the team’s naming ceremony on Wednesday was that Adderley was a member of the country’s Mixed 4x400m relay team that qualified for the Olympics through the IAAF World Relays in May.

  For Cooper, this is her second time being denied an opportunity to compete on the sport’s highest stage.

  She finished third in the 200m at the Bahamian Championships back in 2021 but missed out on an Olympic berth due to COVID-19.

  “Lacarthea, who is no stranger to our sport and who placed third at in the nationals, has demonstrated consistent excellence and was previously denied the opportunity to compete in the 2021 Olympics due to Covid-19,” Archer said in a statement on Thursday.

  “Denying her a second opportunity, undeservedly, would be unfair and contrary to our selection principles. Despite our efforts to engage in discussions with the BOC and to seek common ground, decisions were made without our full agreement,” he added.

  Cooper has since been invited to travel with the team but will not compete.

   

• Reggae Boyz plummet in FIFA rankings after disappointing Copa America performance

  Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have fallen six places in the latest FIFA global rankings, following a dismal performance in the 2024 Copa America. The recent rankings, released on Wednesday, also saw drops for other CONCACAF teams, with the USA and Mexico slipping down the order.

  The Reggae Boyz, now ranked 59th globally after slipping six places, faced a string of defeats in the tournament, losing 1-0 to Mexico, 3-0 to Venezuela, and 3-1 to Mexico, finishing at the bottom of Group B. This poor showing prompted immediate repercussions, with Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson resigning post-tournament. Hallgrímsson has since accepted a new role as the head coach of the Republic of Ireland.

  The Jamaica Football Federation are currently in an advanced stage of hiring a new head coach, who is expected to reverse the team's flagging fortunes.

  Mexico, now ranked 17th, experienced a downturn as well, falling two places in the rankings after their struggles. They were defeated 1-0 by Venezuela and held to a goalless draw by Ecuador. The USA, previously the highest-ranked CONCACAF team, slipped five places to 16th. Their Copa America campaign started promisingly with a 2-0 victory over Bolivia, but subsequent losses to Panama (2-1) and Uruguay (1-0) saw them finish third in Group C, leading to the dismissal of Head Coach Gregg Berhalter.

  In contrast, Canada saw a significant boost, climbing eight places to 40th after an impressive run that saw them finish fourth in the Copa America. Coached by Jesse Marsch, Canada's journey in the tournament included a second-place finish in Group A, with a win, a loss, and a draw. They advanced to the knockout stages and eliminated Venezuela 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation. Although they lost 2-0 to Argentina in the semi-finals and succumbed to Uruguay in the third-place playoff, their performance was enough to propel them up the rankings