Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda has praised the country’s athletes at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, saluting their sacrifices and the Olympic values they continue to embody.

Jamaica had claimed 12 medals — five gold, two silver and five bronze — up to Friday, with the senior women’s netball team also through to the semi-finals. Swimmer Sabrina Lyn qualified for two individual finals and was part of the 4x100m mixed medley relay team that broke the national record twice.

Samuda lauded the athletes’ resilience, fortitude and determination, adding that placing athletes at the centre of planning and execution is key to sustained success.

“Athlete centricity is imperative to any successful strategy of sport development — not only because it enables the progression of talent to regional and international stages, but in enabling the self-actualisation of citizens of a sporting fraternity,” he said.

“Citizenship in sport must be a focal strategy of sports development as we pursue infrastructural development and the financial viability of a sector.”

SOURCE: The Jamaica Observer