A major highlight of  the Central American and Caribbean Games opening ceremony was the dramatic entrance of the Games torch, carried by Dr. Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, George Rhoden, and Les Laing, culminating in the lighting of the Games Flame by Dr. Wint. The solemn oath-taking by Jamaican team captain George Kerr and the raising of the flags of the fifteen participating countries added to the grandeur of the occasion. The event, attended by government ministers, dignitaries, and a crowd of 1,600 athletes, set the stage for two weeks of thrilling sportsmanship and competition.

Published Thursday, August, 12, 1962

Colourful Games opening at Stadium

-First ever in English-speaking country

-Governor General performs historic ceremony

Gleaner Sports Desk

With fitting pomp and ceremony, the Ninth Central American and Caribbean Games – first ever to be held in an English-speaking country since the inception of the Games in 1926 - are declared open by His Excellency the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Kenneth Blackburne, at the National Stadium at Independence Park.

Dramatic moment came when the Games torch was brought into the Stadium by Dr. Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, George Rhoden, and Les Laing, the other three members of Jamaica’s record-shattering 1600 metres relay team at the Helsinki Games in 1952, shared in carrying the Azteca Flame around the track and the Games Flame was lit by Dr. Wint.

Solemn and moving moment of the ceremony in which spectacle followed spectacle, came when the flag-bearers of the fifteen countries stepped forward one by one and formed a semi-circle of flags in front of the dais and lowered their flags, and George Kerr, captain of the Jamaican team, on behalf of all the athletes, took the oath. “In the name of the competitors that take part in these IX Central American and Caribbean Games, I swear on my honour as a true sportsman that I accept the rules and regulations that govern these Games and that I will compete in them for the honour and glory of sports and for the honour of my country.”

It was against this background that the Ninth Games, the greatest sport event in Jamaica’s history, which was also attended by ministers of Government, the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Frank Spaulding, other dignitaries, delegates to the Games, set the stage for two exciting weeks of friendly rivalry by the 1,600 athletes who participated in the ceremony on August 11, 1962.

Other high spots of the occasion were the flag-raising, the message from Her Majesty the  Queen, His Excellency the Governor General's solemn  declaration in opening' the Games, and the closing prayers by the Lord Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt. Rev. Percival Gibson.

The massed bands, which were gathered on the football field, played lively music, then at 8:00 o’clock, the Guard of Honour of soldiers drawn from the Jamaica Regiment, in their smart white uniforms marched in through the marathon tunnel followed later by the three outriders preceding the grey Governor Generals car.

Next was the car bearing the Hon. Donald Sangster, Minister of Finance who deputised for the Prime Minister and then that with Senor Julio, Bustamante representative of the IOC, followed by the Mayor, Councillor Frank Spaulding.

His Excellency Sir Kenneth Blackburne, the Governor General, then proceeded to the dias, where he was received by Lieutenant Colonel David Smith, Commanding Officer of the First Battalion of the Jamaica Regiment. The Governor General received the Royal salute. Colonel Smith escorted the Governor General  to the Royal Box, where he was met by Mr. Herbert Macdonald, President of the Organising Committee of the Games.

The guard of honour then marched out of the arena.

A magnificent Olympic Guard of young Jamaica women dressed in the national colours of black, green, and gold and wearing yellow bandanas, and presented by a member of the Jamaica Regiment bearing the Games Flag, led in the delegations, the first of which was Venezuela, dressed in maroon blazers and grey trousers and skirts. Each delegation was led by a Jamaica Regiment soldier in white dress uniform and carrying the country’s nameboard.

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