Jamaican Bobsledders Ready For Beijing Olympics

Jamaican tourism officials are hoping that having Jamaican bobsledders qualify for February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing will generate favorable publicity for Jamaica as it works to rebuild a tourism industry suffering at the hands of the coronavirus pandemic.

The officials held a news conference Friday, applauding Jamaican competitors qualifying for 3 bobsledding events in Beijing.

“Jamaica will be the hottest team on ice,” culture minister Olivia Grange said.

Tourism minister Edmund Bartlett recalled the publicity surrounding Jamaica’s bobsledding team at the Calgary Winter Olympics, which led to the movie Cool Runnings.

“Everywhere I go in the world, a reference point is Cool Runnings,” he said.

Bartlett predicted sports and entertainment tourism will be increasingly important in Jamaica, which people see as a “unique country.”

Jamaica-based Sandals Resorts is among those funding the bobsledders.