Doha QATAR, 6 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has praised the Jamaican team for “a job well done” at the IAAF Championships with ended today (Sunday) in Doha.

“I think it was a very good showing by Jamaica and we must congratulate and encourage all members of the team who represented our country with such heart, determination, courage and dignity,” said Minister Grange.

The Jamaicans finished third on the medals table with three gold, five silver and four bronze medals.

Jamaica won three medals on the final day of the World Championships when the men’s 4x400 relay team of Akeem Bloomfield, Nathon Allen, Terry Thomas, and Demish Gaye took silver behind the United States team.

The team of Anastasia Le-Roy, Tiffany James, Stephenie Ann McPherson, and Shericka Jackson took the bronze in the women’s 4X400 won by the United States with Poland second.

And Danielle Williams took the bronze in the 100 metre hurdles with Janeek Brown placing 7th.

Minister Grange said:
“Jamaica athletes won 12 medals across disciplines on the track and in the field and I’m very proud of our performances. There were disappointments and setbacks, but we also witnessed awesome achievements on which we will continue to build. I congratulate each member of the team, including the coaching and support staff, for a job well done.”

Minister Grange also used her visit to Doha to advance discussions with the leadership of the IAAF regarding the possibility of Jamaica hosting a major athletic event in 2023.

Minister Grange also met with her Kenyan counterpart to discuss initiatives to operationalise the sports, culture and heritage cooperation agreement which was signed between both countries last August in Kingston.

Under the agreement, Jamaica and Kenya will cooperate in organising major sporting events, collaborate on sports science as well as develop an exchange programme for coaches and teachers of physical education, among other initiatives.

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Kingston, 29 September 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has described Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as nothing short of a phenomenal athlete, a wonderful mother and great daughter of Jamaica.

Minister Grange’s comment came after Shelly-Ann won gold in the 100 metres at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, today making it her fourth 100 metres gold medal at the World Championships.

Minister Grange said:

“It is phenomenal that at 32 and after motherhood, Shelly-Ann shows no sign of literally slowing down. To have so comprehensively beaten the quality competition she faced today and clocked the time she did, she showed us that she is in a class by herself.”

“And it was so heartwarming to see Shelly-Ann cap the performance with her son Zyon in her arms as she took her victory lap.”

Minister Grange said Elaine Thompson and Jonelle Smith can also feel proud to have been in the race, making it three Jamaicans to reach the finals of the women’s !00M in Doha.

The Sport Minister also had much praise for “our athletes who ran in the Mixed Gender 4x400m Relay, creating history in reaching the finals of the inaugural staging of the race and taking the silver medal.”

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Kingston, 28 September 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that long jumper Tajay Gayle was “simply great” in winning the long jump gold medal at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar today, creating a record for Jamaica.

Minister Grange said:
“By becoming the first Jamaican man to win a field title at the World Championships, Gayle, has demonstrated in no uncertain manner his class and it is only fitting that his good performances have been capped by a gold medal at the Championships.

“I wish to let Tajay know that entire Jamaica is thrilled by what he has accomplished in Qatar."

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Sport Minister, the Honourable Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange says a meeting will be convened with members of the organizing committee headed by Mr. Jason McKay at the earliest possible date, with a view to see how best the Government of Jamaica can assist in successfully hosting the 2018 International Sport Kickboxing Association World Championship (ISKA).