Speaking at the recent media launch for the Jamaica Tourist Board’s initiative, ‘Jamaica House’, held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Minister Grange said, “We see sport as a critical asset to be further developed as a means to bring prosperity to our people and as we invest in sport, we give tourism a stronger and better product.”

The Minister indicated that sport and tourism are inter-related as the success of Jamaica’s athletes aid in boosting the country’s tourism product.

“As our athletes do well at the Olympics and the World Games, other sporting disciplines and countries want to identify with Jamaica. They want to come to the country that has the fastest man and woman,” she said.

In endorsing the ‘Jamaica House’ initiative, which serves to promote brand Jamaica at the upcoming Rio Olympics in Brazil, Minister Grange noted that although the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has multiple portfolios, each area is at the centre of brand Jamaica.

The Sport Minister also expressed that Jamaica has worked assiduously to support its athletes whether junior or senior teams. This she said is done in spite of the country’s limited resources.

“Despite our limited financial resources as a country and people we always strive to bolster and grow our programmes and uphold our athletes,” the Minister said.

Minister Grange also conveyed that the Olympics is one of the greatest sporting event in the world and Jamaica’s name is etched in the history of the Olympic movement.

“We always give people a reason to watch and attend the Games, without Jamaica’s participation at the Olympics the Games would not be the same,” she added.

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