Jamaica's Minister of Sport, the hon. Olivia Grange.
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honorable Olivia Grange, has announced that Jamaica will again host the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Forum for Caribbean Ministers of Sport.
Minister Grange says that several Ministers have already confirmed their attendance to the Forum — to be held from January 16-17, 2024 — and at which the WADA President, Witold Bańka will make an address and lead discussions.
Minister Grange, fresh from her first meeting of the WADA Foundation Board as the representative of countries in the Americas, is also slated to address the Forum.
“At the upcoming Forum we will report on the progress we have made as countries and as a region in implementing the anti-doping action plan that we discussed at last January’s Forum right here in Kingston,” said Minister Grange.
“Additionally, we will discuss a number of clean sport issues and initiatives including, athlete education, strengthening national anti-doping organisations in the region, and the critical process of updating the WADA code,” she added.
It’s the third consecutive year that WADA is meeting with Ministers of Sport in the Caribbean to discuss anti-doping matters.
Minister Grange says Jamaica has been happy to mobilize countries, on behalf of WADA, to the meetings which have facilitated cooperation and collaboration towards a stronger anti-doping programme in the region.
Ministers from the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago are among representatives from 18 countries that are expected to participate in the WADA Forum at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
“We expect full representation, again, from all the countries in our region at this very important Forum. We are each at varying stages of the development of our anti-doping in sports programme, but each of our countries is deeply committed to learning from each other and working together to keep sports clean.”
Jamaica's Sports Minister congratulates Sheldon Clarke on history-making NFL advance
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that Sheldon Clarke former student of Munro College, deserves hearty congratulations and best wishes for his history making advance to the National Football League's International Player Pathway (NFL-IPP) Combine in the United Kingdom.
The NFL International Player Pathway programme offers the opportunity for athletes to bridge the gap between their current skills and the demands of professional American football.
The Combine is scheduled for October 10-12, 2024.
If successful at the Combine, Clarke who is 21, could earn a place in a training programme designed to prepare international athletes for the rigours of the NFL.
Minister Grange said, “This selection is not just a personal triumph for Sheldon, but an inspiration for every young athlete in Jamaica who aspires to play American football."
At the Combine, he will undergo rigorous physical tests, skill evaluations, and interviews with NFL personnel.
ESPN ranks Bolt as ninth greatest professional athlete since 2000
The fastest man to ever live, Usain Bolt, was ranked ninth on a list of the top 100 professional athletes since 2000 compiled by American sports channel ESPN on Thursday.
Bolt, an eight-time Olympic champion, 11-time World champion and the world record holder in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, was the highest ranked of only three track and field athletes in the whole list.
The other two track and field athletes on the list are American seven-time Olympic and 14-time World champion Allyson Felix at 63 and Jamaican three-time Olympic champion and 10-time World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at 77.
The list was topped by Michael Phelps with Serena Williams, Lionel Messi, LeBron James and Tom Brady rounding out the top five.
The three names immediately ahead of Bolt are Roger Federer at six, Simone Biles at seven and Tiger Woods at eight while Kobe Bryant came in just behind Bolt at 10.
CANOC, BOA mourn passing of former BOA president Judy Simons
Former Bermuda Olympic Association president Judy Simons passed away on January 3.
The association made the announcement in a press release, leaving family, friends and colleagues to mourn.
“We are saddened to advise you of the passing of our friend and colleague Mrs. Judy Simons on January 3, 2024,” BOA president Peter Dunne said.
“This sudden and shocking news will be felt around the world.”
The announcement noted her 25 years of service to the Commonwealth Games Federation and to the Olympic movement, which followed a sporting career in field hockey and tennis.
“Her contributions to the BOA and Bermuda’s sporting community have had significant impact on the profile of Bermuda within the international sporting communities and organisations, right up to her passing as the regional vice-president (Americas) of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“In addition to her tenure as president of the BOA and previously as secretary-general, Judy served on numerous committees.
“Judy’s leadership and reputation in the international sports groups has done much for the advancement of Bermuda and our athletes.
“Her reputation as a strong advocate for our organisation and other small national Olympic committees was well earned and will be missed greatly by all who knew her and benefited from her experience.
“Judy often referred to the 2020 gold medal of Flora Duffy as the pinnacle of her BOA career, but her legacy as a relationship builder will be remembered for years to come, always for the benefit of the BOA.
“Bermuda’s standing in global sport is due in large part to Judy’s dedication to the movement and her ability to develop strong bonds with her colleagues.
“We will continue to benefit from her work and reflect on her service as a model for all to emulate.”
BOA secretary-general Branwen Smith-King described Mrs. Simons as a “good friend, colleague and mentor”
“I’m devastated by this news; she will be sorely missed,” she said. “Judy’s contribution to sport in Bermuda reaches beyond our borders and those of us in the sports world are indebted to her services.
“As past president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, Judy’s leadership, passion for helping others and love for sport was inspirational.
“Judy Simons has left a legacy that truly cannot be duplicated. Rest in peace, my friend.”
BOA first vice-president Brenda Dale added: “Judy was a dear friend and someone I deeply admired and trusted.
“She was a kind, caring and committed person whose heart was rooted in the Bermuda sports community.
“She dedicated a large part of her life fighting for and supporting our Bermuda athletes in every avenue and at every level possible.
“I am ever grateful to have accepted her invitation to join her on the BOA board, as it was truly an honour to serve with her.
“She was an inspiration, and her hard work and immense contributions to sport, both locally and internationally, will be a legacy felt and admired across the globe. She will be deeply missed.”
Ben Smith, the deputy leader of the opposition One Bermuda Alliance and Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, described Mrs. Simons as “the face of sports in Bermuda” whose rich legacy will live on.
Mr. Smith who is also Bermuda’s national swimming coach, said: “Judy was an absolute pleasure to work and travel with. She was a consummate professional, but also very nurturing and a joy to be around.
“Bermuda has lost yet another national treasure and will be sorely missed. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her family at this difficult time.”
The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) also reacted to her passing.
“It is with immense sadness and a heavy heart that I extend our most sincere condolences to the immediate family, the Olympic Family and the entire Bermudan sport family, on the passing, earlier today, of our dear friend and colleague, Judy Simons,” CANOC President Keith Joseph said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement continued: “It was not so long ago that we had the pleasure of Judy's company and observed then, that she was ailing. As usual, in her own style, she seemed to convince us that all was well.
“Truth sets us free and Judy never really recovered from the death of her husband. Even speaking of his passing a few weeks ago in Singapore, brought great sadness to her and an admission of just how much this continued to impact her.
“Judy's commitment to sport led her to take on many challenges. She soldiered as she had to cope with the passing of her treasured General Secretary, Phillip Guishard, and was ecstatic with the gold medal winning performance of the country's Triathlon athlete, Flora Duffy, making Bermuda the smallest country in the Olympic Movement to win gold at the Olympics.”
Mrs. Simons was the wife of former Somerset Cup Match captain Campbell Simons, who predeceased her in September 2021.
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