KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-The Jamaica Government has announced plans to stage ‘scaled down’ celebrations for members of the team which participated in the London Olympics last month.
Sports Minister Natalie Neita-Headley says the celebrations will take place on the weekend of national heroes’ day around the middle of October.
The Jamaican sports minister made the announcement while attending an official homecoming to welcome five Olympic medalists who returned to the island Monday.
“We are going to be doing a cultural presentation. All of the best of what Jamaica has to offer. Entertainers from across the country have called to say that they are willing to give free performances to give that kind of appreciation to the athletes” Neita-Headley told reporters covering the official welcome ceremony at the Normal Manley International Airport.
“The Prime Minister will present special awards and every single participant who went to London will walk away feeling that they have been appreciated”.
Olympic 100 and 200 metres silver medalist Yohan Blake was among the returning athletes as well as Warren weir and Ansel Parchment who took bronze in the 200metres and 110 metres hurdles respectively
Jamaica achieved its best ever performance at the Olympics winning four gold, four silver, and four bronze medals.
“I just want to say thank you for all of this because this really meant a lot to all of us ..you know coming back to this warm reception it has been good”Blake said on behalf of his colleague athletes.
“Now we are seeing that there is interest and there is support for all of us athletes because that is what we needed because we have been through a lot and it hasn’t been easy”.
Among the officials who returned to the island after nine weeks in Europe was coach Glen mills.
“This our greatest year at the Olympics the last Olympics the club relied on the exploits of Usain” said Mills whose athletes, Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Wier, were responsible for six of the medals in the 100 and 200 metres at the Olympics.
“This year we were able to not only get his exploits but to add significantly to it to achieve some superlatives which underlined the quality of programme we have”
