'Meet Jamaica 2012' cements Jamaica-Birmingham bond

With the Olympic Games on the horizon, the ever-growing bond between Jamaica and Birmingham has been further strengthened by the Meet Jamaica 2012 initiative which held an official launch in the United Kingdom's second city.

Senior ministers from Jamaica, along with the Jamaica Promotions Corporation and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, praised Birmingham and, in particular, its council leader Mike Whitby for helping to promote "brand Jamaica".

The Meet Jamaica initiative represents a public-private partnership that seeks to promote Jamaica's brand and capitalise on the global platform created by the Olympics.

Karl Samuda, minister of industry, investment and commerce, said he would be delighted to tell Prime Minister Bruce Golding about the University of Birmingham's wonderful facilities where the Jamaican track and field team will stay before heading for the Games in London next year.

Creating a legacy

Earlier, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said that with the Jamaican team, "We are giving London the greatest gift since sugar. I believe 2012 is all about Jamaica putting London solidly on the map. As we came in the Windrush years, so we come again in the rush for 2012."

Whitby said he was determined that 2012 would create a legacy between Birmingham and Jamaica long after the last of the Olympic medals had been handed out.

He said the way sports coaches in Jamaica trained youngsters to be the finest athletes in the world was inspirational and Birmingham had much to learn from this.

Earl Jarrett, general manager of the Jamaica National Group, which is lead sponsor for Meet Jamaica 2012, said Whitby had shared a vision for the 2012 Games and he had helped to make that dream a reality for both Birmingham and Jamaica.

- Poppy Brady