The Jamaica Paralympic Association hosted a Press Conference to announce its delegation to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games on Wednesday August 25 .
The conference was well attended by the media which interacted with members of the delegation and sought information on their preparation and the Games which faces challenges owing to budget cuts and poor ticket sales.
President Samuda told the attendees that the JPA Board is committed to athlete development and actualization and stated that in all the Board’s plans the athlete is always first and foremost and that this informed preparations for Rio.
The Minister of Culture, Entertainment, Sport and Gender Affairs, the Honorable, Olivia Grange, who was gust speaker, lauded the athletes, coaches, and team Managers and indicated that the nation and Government wish the athletes every success.
Shane Hudson, Alphanso Cunningham and Dana -Gaye Weller will carry the nation’s flag in the pulsating city of Rio de Janeiro and are well focused. ”We will be there to do a job and that will be our focus” said Alphanso Cunningham, a multiple gold medalist at international championships and the world record holder in the F53 Men’s Javelin.
Chef de Mission, Javon Campbell, announced the team and pledged its commitment to making the country proud and continuing the tradition of excellence. He, along with Sport Administrator, Ann Marie Smith, will leave for Rio this Sunday August 28 while the team will depart the island on August 30.
The press conference received tremendous coverage on Jamaica’s two free-to-air stations, TVJ and CVM, and was reported on by several printed and electronic media houses. Function Chairman, Director Edmund Jones thanked the media for its continued support and signaled that for Tokyo 2020 the strategic objective of the JPA is to have representation in at least five dusciplines and that plans are already in train.
Secretary General, Suzanne Harris Henry, gave an overview of Rio and indicated that preparation has gone relatively well so far and that all is in place for a successful campaign.
