THE XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece, birthplace of the modern Games, is just seven weeks away and Jamaica's preparations for the world's biggest sporting event are in full gear.
This weekend is an important one for the island's best athletes as they attempt to seal places on the national team to the August 13-29 Games.
Four years ago Jamaica left the Sydney Games with an admirable haul of seven medals four silver and two bronze and there is every hope that the island will equal or even surpass that total in Athens.
The men and women's sprint relay teams are among the strongest in the world and it is not far-fetched to think they will win gold at the Games. In fact, the women won silver in Sydney while the men were fourth. Long-jumper Elva Goulbourne, with a best leap of 7.16 metres, has the best female performance in the event for 2004 while Jamaica will be strong contenders in the women's 100 metres hurdles where three women could make the final.
The performances over the current three-day 'national trials' will give clear signals on the likely showing by Jamaica at the Games.
The absence from the trials of the teenage sensation Usain Bolt, is a cause for some concern however. He is without doubt the island's best male talent since 1976 when Donald Quarrie won the 200 metres gold at the Montreal Games in Canada.
Bolt's 19.93 seconds at this year's Carifta Games in Bermuda is not only the world junior record, it stamped him as the fastest man over the distance in 2004 and as an early favourite for gold in Athens. The expectations for a grand performance in Athens are therefore very high.
In the past six weeks, however, Bolt has withdrawn from three top meets and there is a growing feeling among local followers of the sport that his preparations for the Olympics are less than perfect.
The public needs an assurance from Bolt's management that everything is being done to ensure that he will take his place among the island's elite in Athens. He will thus have an opportunity to enhance Jamaica's enviable record at the Games with a tradition of excellence dating back to London in 1948 when local track and field legends Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley won gold and silver respectively in the men's 400 metres final.
Bolt, who will be 18 in August, has the potential to join these giants of Olympic glory. The Jamaican flag should fly again, this time at the cradle of these ancient games.
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