Related items

• Long overdue: UK based entities Ryder Architecture and CAA Icon have joint-proposal accepted by Jamaican Sport Ministry to redevelop National Stadium

  The redevelopment of the place that has played host to so many of Jamaica’s track and field heroes, the National Stadium, is close to beginning as Jamaica’s Ministry of Sport has accepted a joint proposal from UK based entities Ryder Architecture and CAA Icon to oversee the project.

  Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Hon. Olivia Grange made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday providing updates on the redevelopment project.

  “We met with representatives from both Ryder Architecture and CAA Icon and they submitted a joint proposal to us for the renovation and redevelopment of facilities at Independence Park, particularly the National Stadium,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

  She continued: “The document, in essence, proposes to, not only address the shortcomings of the existing stadium, but to identify, through qualitative and quantitative assessment, the full potential for this iconic stadium with enhancement as a major tournament venue, training centre and visitor attraction to promote Jamaica and Jamaican sport talent.”

  Ryder Architecture and CAA Icon have worked together many times and have been involved in stadiums around the world such as Wembley, the Emirates Stadium, the 02 Arena, Stadio Olimpico and the San Siro.

  “My Ministry, through its oversight committee and the executing agency, Independence Park Limited, is of the view that Ryder Architecture and CAA Icon can deliver on the proposal given the entities’ years in the business of building and redeveloping sports facilities worldwide,” Grange said.

  The project will see the capacity of the National Stadium increase from 28,500 to 35,000 and will make the country able to bid to host major global events like the World Athletics Championships.

  Dispensing with the bleachers, establishing modern facilities for anti-doping, new facilities for media, the establishment of a modern and iconic sports museum, new modern lighting, new seating options, new conference and meeting facilities, premium suites and lounges and new concession facilities among other upgrades were discussed by Grange’s team and the entities.

  The next step in the re-development project of the National Stadium is a stadium assessment and feasibility study.

  “The study includes a thorough economic and feasibility analysis to identify local and international market demand to ensure that use, and therefore design proposals are aligned to economic demand,” Grange said before stating that these studies will commence in a few weeks and be completed within eight months.

  The results of those studies will inform phase two which is the project initiation, concept design and approval stage.

  Phase three will involve the detailed design and appointment of a contractor in which a groundbreaking date of August 2025 is being targeted.

  Phase four will involve construction and phase five is the operational readiness and handover.

  Grange anticipates that the whole project will last about 30 months or two and a half years.

  The football field and running track will be unaffected during the construction process according to Independence Park Limited General Manager, Major Desmon Brown, who noted that the only inconvenience caused will be a limited capacity of seats for the duration of the process.

  The funding for this project came from a government to government framework for co-operation agreement signed by Jamaica’s Finance Minister, the Hon. Nigel Clarke, and CEO of UK Export Finance, Tim Reid earlier this year.

  Clarke, as well as UK Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Baroness Jennifer Chapman, were both in attendance on Tuesday.

  “UK Export Finance are delighted that this agreement will enable them to support Jamaica’s game changing national priority projects and is proud to back the implementation of high-quality UK solutions and innovations alongside UK Government funding,” said Chapman.

  “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to get this deal over the finish line before the departure of Mr. Clarke for his next role at the IMF,” she added.

  “When I met the head of the UK Export Finance at a function at the UK High Commission, light bulbs began to go off because there he was in Jamaica looking for business and engagement and I know have projects that we want to develop but where the technical capacity is not abundantly available in Jamaica, for obvious reasons,” Clarke said.

  “Sparks began to fly about how we could use the format of a government to government co-operation with the UK Export entity to provide the framework through which the feasibility could be delivered and the construction to follow for the stadium,” he added.

• Jamaican Olympian Aleen Bailey and husband Joseph Taylor expecting first child, celebrate with baby shower with family and friends

  Jamaican Olympian Aleen Bailey and her husband Joseph Taylor are celebrating an exciting new chapter in their lives as they prepare to welcome their first child. The couple marked the occasion with a heartwarming baby shower on Sunday, attended by close family and friends, including collegiate coach and close friend Soyini Thompson, and former Jamaican thrower Zara Northover, who presided over the couple’s wedding in November 2023.

  Bailey, a decorated athlete, has had an illustrious career on the track. A seven-time Carifta Games gold medalist, Bailey rose to global prominence when she won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team. Her relay success continued, with another gold medal at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. Throughout her career, Bailey represented Jamaica with distinction, earning numerous accolades in the national colours, making her one of the country's most celebrated sprinters.

  

  (Soyini Thompson Facebook)

  Aleen and her husband Joseph are all smiles with their dear friend Zara Northover on Sunday.

  The baby shower was a joyful gathering filled with love and anticipation for the couple’s impending parenthood. Surrounded by their support system, Bailey and Taylor celebrated the next step in their journey together, a journey that began when they tied the knot under the warm Jamaican sun in a beautiful ceremony at the St Andrew Scots Kirk United Church in Kingston.

  Their wedding, officiated by Reverend Nigel Nusey and longtime friend Northover, was a heartfelt celebration of love, faith, and the powerful bond shared by two outstanding athletes. Northover, Bailey’s former roommate during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, expressed her gratitude for being a part of the couple’s journey, reflecting on the significance of God’s blessing in their marriage.

  The couple’s reception at the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston was a further testament to the love they share, surrounded by family, friends, and members of the athletic community that has played such an important role in their lives.

  Now, as they prepare to welcome their first child, Bailey and Taylor are entering a new chapter, continuing their journey of love and family. The support from their friends and loved ones was palpable at the baby shower, a day filled with happiness, excitement, and anticipation for the new arrival.

   

   

• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reflects on the sixth anniversary of her statue at Independence Park

  Two-time Olympic 100m champion and five-time World 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, has marked the sixth anniversary of the statue erected in her honour at Independence Park in Kingston. The statue, which was unveiled on October 14, 2018, stands as a symbol of her incredible achievements and contributions to athletics.

  On Monday, the legendary sprinter took to Facebook to reflect on the momentous occasion, posting, "Growing up, statues represented important people who were no longer alive. October 14, 2018, was a monumental feeling to see yourself larger than life with your very own eyes."

  The unveiling of Fraser-Pryce’s statue, which took place six years ago, drew government officials, diplomats, and loyal fans to the National Stadium, despite heavy rain associated with a broad trough across the western Caribbean. The ceremony lasted over two hours, with various speakers praising Fraser-Pryce, the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic 100m gold medallist, for her remarkable career and her inspirational journey.

  

  Prime Minister Andrew Holness unveiled the statue during the special ceremony at Statue Park, where other Jamaican sporting greats are also immortalized.

  Back then, Fraser-Pryce, reflecting on her journey, remarked, "Early in my journey, I wasn’t a model athlete. However, once I found out the power I had in my legs and was convinced that hard work is the key to success, I bought a stake into my own vision for my future."

  She shared a message of encouragement for those chasing their dreams, emphasizing resilience and perseverance: "We all have our dreams, and sometimes we do not get to pursue them. However, if you are alive, you can still be able to achieve them. A delayed dream doesn’t mean a dream denied."

  The 37-year-old sprinter remains one of the most iconic figures in global track and field, and the statue commemorating her legacy stands as a testament to her enduring impact on Jamaican and world athletics.