Remembering the Success of the Asuncion 2025 Junior Para Panametican Games
Paralympic Games
Samuda confident of regional paralympic growth due to new Puma deal
Daniel Blake | Sports Writer | November 11, 2025
amaica’s para-athletes are expected to see increased benefits in the coming years after German sports apparel giants Puma signed a sponsorship deal with the Americas Paralympic Committee (AmPC).
It comes days after Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) President Christopher Samuda was elected vice-president of the region’s paralympic governing body.
The agreement will see Puma providing financial and technical assistance to help develop several para sports initiatives in the Caribbean, North America and South America.
Samuda said, “It is a coalescence of sporting values and culture that has gone beyond the commercialisation of brands and money and has found its currency and integrity in the aspirations of para athletes who continue to ignite humanity with defining feats.”
Puma Latin America General Manager Carlos Laje says the sponsorship is critical in uplifting the paralympic movement in the region.
Puma will also serve as prime sponsor for AmPC governed events Para Panamerican Games, which takes place in the summer of 2027 in Lima, Peru with a number of Jamaican athletes set to participate.
“Ownership of the games vests in us custody of the aspirations of thousands of sportsmen and women and youth which my executive board colleagues and I recognise is a privilege that comes with a fiduciary obligation to create value and deliver results for them — the human capital of sport,”
Samuda, who also serves as president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, says he intends to put the athletes first after being elected AmPC vice-president, ahead of Canada Paralympic Committee President Marc-Andre Fabien.
“It is far from being a personal victory but a commitment to the athletes of the Caribbean and Americas whom we serve and whose interest and welfare are paramount in the regional sporting construct,” said Samuda.
Earlier this year, the Samuda led JPA secured a partnership with the AmPC and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean to create a paralympic high performance academy in Jamaica, the first of its kind in the Caribbean.
The JPA also hosted its first Grassroots Para Sport Festival last month where dozens of Jamaica’s para-athletes showcased their talents in track and field, powerflifting, archery and fencing.
Samuda is hoping that there’s greater private and public investment in local parasports going forward.
“It is part of our educational campaign for the private sector and those financial backers who would want to not only give us a cheque for particular events but also to come as a partner, a long-term partner in the Paralympic movement,” he said.
“It will just not simply be for branding value, but we want them to see themselves as part of this progression in para-sports development and also to bring on board their own ideas as to how best we can further deepen the impact of para-sports in Jamaica.”
GAPS Closing Ceremony at UWI
Event Date: July 25, 2025
GAPS Closing Ceremony at UWI when Certificates were handed out by Christopher Samuda, President, Jamaica Olympic Association
Jamaica to host GAPS Camp as countdown begins to Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Posted by Howard Walker / Our Today / Jul 20, 2025
Jamaica will host a one-week training camp for Caribbean para-athletes and coaches called GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) starting July 20 to 26 in Kingston.
This will be the second edition of its transformative programme and will welcome eight para-athletes and 18 coaches from six Caribbean nations – Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. This will be the first time for Dominica and Guyana.
The Jamaica Commonwealth Games Association, the Jamaica Paralympic Association and the University of the West Indies have joined forces to stage the camp on the UWI campus.
A highlight of the camp will see athletes competing in a dedicated event on the penultimate day, to showcase new skills and experience para sport classification which is an essential step towards participating in major international competitions.
President of the Jamaica Olympic and Paralympic associations, Christopher Samuda, said they are transforming Jamaica into a mecca of education and of practical training for coaches as well as athletes and administrators.
“It’s an ongoing initiative, by the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Commonwealth Games Association of Jamaica to ensure that we not only educate our athletes in terms of the sporting disciplines in which they participate, but also to telegraph to them the principles and the protocols of the Commonwealth Games movement,” said Samuda.
“This is something that we have always felt that the Jamaica Paralympic Association must be in place, not only to profile the Commonwealth Games Association in Jamaica, but also to demonstrate the importance of para-athletes to the sporting asset of this country,” he added.
It is aligned with the ‘One Year to Go’ milestone for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which will feature the largest para sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.
“We’re encouraging the Commonwealth Games Federation to make Jamaica to be the hub of the GAPS program. We already are the hub for paralympic development from an international paralympic committee perspective,” Samuda pointed out.
Dr Akshai Mansingh, Dean, Faculty of Sport at the UWI Mona campus, pointed out that the GAPS initiative is one of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which is trying not just to be competitive in nature, but inclusive in nature for all para-athletes and people with disabilities.
“We recognise that para sport is an important part of our own national sporting agenda. In fact, before our golden era in athletics in February, our para athletes had actually earned us more or won us more medals than our able-bodied athletes had,” Dr Mansingh revealed.
“Now, what we need to do is to expand the pool of people who get interested in sport, who have disabilities. Unfortunately, in Jamaica, as in many countries, people with disability don’t have the opportunities or are aware of the opportunities that are out there,” he added.
“Sport is certainly one way that they cannot only participate, but actually even earn. So, we’re happy that we can provide this, not just to Jamaican para-athletes, but athletes from throughout the Caribbean,” said Dr Mansingh.
GAPS is not just a training programme, it is a movement dedicated to building inclusive sport pathways and fostering social change throughout the Commonwealth and the President of Commonwealth Sport in Uganda, Dr Donald Rukare supported the initiative.
“At Commonwealth Sport we are fully supportive of it. We believe in the power of sports to unite all athletes of various abilities and we are particularly happy through GAPS programme we are able to promote inclusive sport, bringing people with disabilities into the mainstream sport, especially women and children,” said Dr Rukare.
“And we’re very happy that the second edition of the GAPS program is being held in the beautiful city of Kingston. We hope you find this camp very insightful, very useful, and we look forward to a successful holding of this second GAPS camp,” he added.
Meanwhile, para field events athlete, Dushane Davis, is excited about rubbing shoulders with fellow Caribbean athletes and eager to learn as much during the camp.
“I am looking forward to the camp to learn from all athletes all over the Caribbean and just looking to develop and to improve on all the stuff I have already learnt before and I am aiming for a world record this year,” said Davis.
Christopher Bourne, long jumper and 400m, is also looking forward to the camp with enthusiasm and hopes it will help him gain a medal next year. “This GAPS camp will teach a lot and will allow me to meet new Caribbean friends”.
Veteran coach Neville Sinclair, is glad for the opportunity to pass on his knowledge to them in what he believes will only advance the coaches and the athletes.
“First, I must say it’s a very refreshing feeling of the camp and what this does it opens the door for more athletes and persons who want to become new para coaches,” said Sinclair.
“We have able bodies who want to be para-coach, but it’s not as easy as coaching able bodies because when it comes onto to para-athletes you have different classes with different disabilities and different mobilisation,” he explained.
“So, there is quite a vast difference and I am sure these new coaches will learn and enjoy it. So, it’s a wonderful thing the GAPS camp is being held here and Caribbean countries will be happy to learn new things,” said Sinclair.
SOURCE: https://our.today/jamaica-to-host-gaps-camp-as-countdown-begins-to-glasgow-commonwealth-games/
Jamaica’s Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock confirms he’s switching allegiance for financial gains
Howard Walker / Our Today / Author
Jamaica’s 2024 Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock confirmed his intention to switch allegiance to Turkey for financial gains, declaring that there is “life after track”.
The 24-year-old Pinnock, who won the long jump at the London Diamond League on Saturday with a leap of 8.20m, said he still loves Jamaica.
“I’m doing this for my family. You know, there’s a life after track, and I feel like we don’t really have a lot in the sport,” said Pinnock.
“So, if we could make as much as possible, I mean, I just gotta do it. I mean, I love my country. Loyalty don’t pay bills, as you all know,” he added.
Unconfirmed reports are that Pinnock would receive US$500,000 (J$80m) to make the switch to Turkey with added bonuses, depending on performance.
He, along with Olympic discus champion Roje Stona, Olympic shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell and promising triple jumper Jaydon Hibbert, the World Under-20 record holder, are seeking to switch allegiance.
“I’m just grateful that God gave me this opportunity, and I feel like if I had turned down this opportunity, I would have regretted it,” said Pinnock.
Having broken the Boys’ Champs 110 hurdles and log jump record in 2019 while at Kingston College, Pinnock went on and won the collegiate long jump double in 2022, winning the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles and making his first senior Jamaican team.
Pinnock reiterated that Jamaica need to do better with the athletes because if he is to get injured right now, he would have to dip into his own pocket.
“So, if I could get the opportunity where someone will look out for me, you know, because I’ve been doing good for my country, and honestly, I never got an email from no one saying congrats before. Not even an email,” he pointed out.
Alphanso Cunningham Wins GOLD in the Men’s Javelin Throw
Alphanso Cunningham just won the gold medal in the men’s F52/53 Javelin at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He threw 21.84 metres – a regional record.
Alphanso said: “This is for Jamaica, land we love”
Coach Sinclair said : Alphanso was superb. He was supreme and his hard work has paid off handsomely”
President Samuda said: “Alphanso did the country proud. It was an authoritative performance from a man accustomed to being at the top of the podium.”
Kerry Lee Ricketts, Massage Therapist, who was with our Olympic team in June and who is doing working with our team at the paralympic games said: This is an inspirational moment. This is a bigger inspiration than the olympic games as they have overcome challenges and have done us all proud. Bravo!”
- Ambassador on a Mission: Cunningham to Champion Para-Athlete Inclusion in Antigua
- Samuda Unveils Bold Blueprint to Transform Jamaican Sport into a National Industry
- Samuda Announces Historic Move to Formalise Diaspora’s Role in Olympic Administration
- Samuda Champions Coordinated Funding to Protect Integrity of Para Sport
- Samuda Calls for Coordinated Funding to Fix Paralympic Classification
