Jamaica sweeps Tokyo track – Flag raising to hail J59 in Bk
Gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica celebrates
after winning Women’s 100m Final during the Tokyo
2020 Olympics on July 31, 2021. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Caribbean Life, AUGUST 6-12, 2021 11
Come rain or shine on Aug.
6, Jamaica’s black, gold and
green banner will rise above
Brooklyn’s Borough Hall to celebrate
the successes attained
since becoming independent 59
years ago.
In addition to acknowledging
the historic milestone defection
from English rule in 1962, a flag
raising ceremony will hail the
world record-breaking Olympic
victory achieved in Tokyo, Japan
last Saturday when Elaine Thompson
Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-
Pryce and Shericka Jackson swept
the 100 metres competition.
For the second time in Olympic
history, Jamaicans finished
first, second and third in the
women’s 100 meters sprint race.
Jamaicans first accomplished
the feat in Beijing, China in
2008, Jamaica has claimed first
place since.
“Jamaica’s area code is no
longer 876. It’s now 1.2.3.”
That was a social media suggestion
Jamaicans endorsed.
Fans flooded images of the
dynamic trio displaying bragging
poses in front of gold, silver and
bronze medals.
“We didn’t come to bow…we
come to conquer.”
“Jamaica on fyah!” seemed
the viral messaging with emojis
of the flag annexed to blazing
flames expressing pride of the
nation.
Olivia Grange, the island’s
minister of gender, culture,
sports and entertainment has
urged Jamaicans at home and
abroad to join the celebrations
and decorate their spaces.
“Put your flag outside your
door,” she said.
“Put it in your yard.”
“Decorate your building.”
“Decorate your store front.”
“Use the Jamaican colors and
just create that spirit of independence:
be bold with the black,
green and gold.”
On the island, COVID-19 precautions
prevent the usual revelry
however a 10-day celebration
invited nationals for a theme,
‘Jamaica 59: Come Mek We Celebrate
Online.’
“The restrictions of COVID-
19 limit what we can do and
limit our gatherings, but we can
stay home and celebrate with our
families and we can enjoy the
offerings that are being produced
by the JCDC and my Ministry to
ensure that we all can still celebrate
while we keep safe,” Minister
Grange added.
With less restrictive COVID-
19 precautions here, diasporans
will be able to flaunt pride in
nation on Aug. 6 when Kings
County rolls out the red carpet
to hail the recent victory and
others recorded since the island
attained independence.
Simultaneous with a similar
ceremony in Jamaica slated
for 9 am the Jamaica Consulate
will host the annual flag raising
event.
A reception will follow to feature
messages from the island’s
Prime Minister Andrew Holness
and other dignitaries.
Commemorative activities
here started on Sunday in Queens
with a thanksgiving service at
Immaculate Conception Monastery
Church in Jamaica Estates.
Prayers and aspirations of
recovery from the pandemic,
optimism of participation and
transformation amplified messages
from the pulpit.
Sermons also boasted the successful
transition from dependency
to independence and the
Olympic triumph.
In Hartford, Connecticut,
a meet and greet with Leslie
Campbell, state minister of foreign
affairs and foreign trade
with the responsibility for diasporan
affairs calls celebrants to the
West Indian Social Club where
“Stronger Together” themes the
Aug. 3 revelry.
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