Jamaican Sports Have a Rich and Storied History

When someone talks about famous Jamaicanof Jamaica's many adult resorts, chances are you are
athletes, chances are you will hear a lot about one ofprobably not there to play cricket, but it may be
the most accomplished Jamaican athletes ever, 2008something you'd like to go see. Depending on where
Summer Olympics gold medalist Usain Bolt. Boltyou are from, there may not be a chance to see
captured the world's attention with his bold, brashcricket at your home. The sport has a long tradition on
behavior that he backed up with wins that lookedthe island, and the level of play is quite good.
easy. Of course, they were nothing but, as they cameMany still associated the Jamaican island with the
against the world's best runners from every corner ofunlikeliest of sports: bobsledding. At the 1988 Winter
the globe. But even if your idea of sports is hanging outOlympics in Calgary, the Jamaicans shocked many by
at a Jamaica golf course, it isn't hard to see Bolt'ssimply competing with the world's best. While the
ridiculous athleticism. If you think that track and field israces were mostly disappointing from a place
the only game on the island of Jamaica, you areperspective, the simple fact that the Jamaicans were
definitely wrong. There are all sorts of passionsout there was enough for most people. After all,
Jamaicans have for sport, and running is just one ofJamaica is what most would associate with a
them.Caribbean honeymoon, not sliding down an icy chute in
Cricket is one such sport. Popular with the English, thisa sled. And while 1988 was not a success, the 1992
sport is a holdover from the days of English rule of thegames saw the Jamaican team finish 14th in the
island. That does not lessen the passion that many of4-man sled and a shocking 10th in the 2-man, beating
this sport's players and fans have for it. There arethe Swedish national champions in the process. An
many matches played all over the island, as well as ininspiration for many, the bobsled program is still going
one of the Caribbean's premier cricket stadiums,strong on this island nation.
12,000-seat Sabina Park stadium. If you are visiting one