My article did not once mention ‘medal tally’ or any kind of quantitative tests as that was not the premise on which I wanted to guage Jamaica’s ascendancy. Medal tally is a skwed and limited measurement of Jamaica’s growing authority i9n track and field and America’s decline.

Jamaica ascendance is qualitative in terms of presence on the track for the alst 50 years or so relative to size, resources and sheer numbers of talent to emerge and occupy the field from heats to finals. The extraordinary looming presence of the nation in the consciousness of world athletics cannot be meaured by medal tally and ought not to be.

So when you read my piece, read it with a sense of Jamaica’s presence (unlike any other nation even those with ore medals) and future promise, rather than its position on the medal table. Again quantitiave measurements could never prperly account for Jamaica’s success and America’s obvious decline in world athletics.

The Olympics is composed of a total of forty four (44) track and field events that account for 142 medals out of a total of 960 medals. In 2008 the US earned 23 (16%) of the total track and field medals. It was followed by Russia and Kenya which won 18 (13%) and 14 (10%) of the total track and field medals, respectively. Jamaica won 11 (8%) and was followed by Ethiopia that won 7 (5%) and Cuba that won 5 (3%) of the medals in track and field. The remaining 64 (45%) of the track and field medals were won by other nations.

The United States is gradually loosing its edge in track and field events. Based on future projects and a wishful thinking, it appears that the United States could loose all medals in track and field by 2068, fifteen Olympics from now. As a result, it would only attain a total of 85 medals. If Jamaica were to win all track and field events that were won by the US in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it would only attain a total of 34 (24%) of the total track and field medals. With such an achievement, Jamaica would still not be able to match or surpass the US performance in the Olympics.

In order for that to goal to be achieved Jamaica shall have to gradually overtime increase its medals counts. Jamaica is to embark on a “Five Additional Medals Each Olympic” or shortly known as FAMEO program. Building on what was attained in the 2008 Olympics, Jamaica is to aim at achieving sixteen (16) medals in the 2012 Olympics. This is to be followed by twenty (20) medals in the 2016 Olympics and so on. At that rate, Jamaica shall achieve 86 medals in the 2068 Olympics and, therefore, surpass the number of medals anticipated by the US. It is a very challenging task but it can be done. Either 61% of the total track and field medals are to be won or a combination of medals in other sport events. Diversification in events is very important for Jamaica. Winning short distance running events by itself would not make it. Such events account for only 42 medals, almost half of what Jamaica would need to surpass the US.

Olympic Development Programs – - 2012 FAMEO, 2016 FAMEO, 2020 FAMEO etc involved in identifying and developing youths are to be established in every Jamaican Town, Parish as well as at the National level. Apart from passion, hard work, dedication and discipline a lot of resources would be needed in running such programs. For example, resources are needed to establish and operate a National FAMEO Residence Program; train and pay coaches; provide stipends to athletes; organize periodic meets etc. As much as possible, the FAMEO activities are to be funded through private sources – - corporate sponsors and donations as well as individual donations. Unlike the US that does not fund any sport activity, the Jamaica government should provide matching funds to national athletic development programs. However, the focus and responsibility for the government should remain to be provision of good public education to our kids, building hospitals, providing security for its citizens and investment in public infrastructure. These are by far the most critical challenges in improving the standard of living and quality of life for this young and vibrant nation.

Hope B. Gibson

I have a few friends from Sweden myself from my years in New Zealand.

I recall those anti-smacking debates very well, we discussed it quite a bit over morning tea when I was a Phd candidate in NZ. Good to meet you.

Thanks again

Hume

During the years, I have wondered just why our Jamaicans were always the runners-up. I was at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg during the 1995 World Championships in Track & Field when Merlene Ottey won the Gold after Gwen Torrence had been disqualified. That Gold was welcome, but that was not the way we wanted to win. Then after the fall of Communism and the exposures concerning the use of illegal substances in the Eastern European countries, followed by the dethroning of several of the American gold medalists, I came to realise that maybe our Jamaican athletes had always been the real winners, but they lost to those who cheated.

So, finally we occupy the place that is rightfully and truly ours: the number one athletes of the world on the fast track. I am so happy and proud of our athletes. Also my husband, a Swede, basks in our sunshine and our Swedish friends are flabbergasted at the achievements of our tiny island.

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PS. Too bad I didn’t know about you, Dr. Hume Johnson, in July 2006, when I spent two weeks in NZ touring and lecturing in connection with my participation in the Select Committee Hearing on the proposed anti-smacking law.

Hume