LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter JAMAICA'S MEDALLISTS at this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games are in for a heroes welcome during 'Heritage Week', October 14-18, Sports Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced yesterday at the office of Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport.
Under the auspices of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, the National Proprietary Planning Committee, chaired by Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Delano Franklyn, has planned an elaborate and compact five-day event for Jamaica's 13 medallists at the Olympics and Paralympics in Athens, Greece.
ATHLETIC AMBASSADORS
"The time has now come for the nation to personally say thanks to our athletic ambassadors who brought so much glory (to our country)," Simpson Miller said.
Veronica Campbell, Sherone Simpson, Aleen Bailey, Tayna Lawrence, Beverley McDonald, Nadia Davy, Novlene Williams, Sandie Richards, Michelle Burgher, Allison Beckford, Danny McFarlane and Paralympians Alphanso Cunningham and Tanto Campbell, who won gold and bronze respectively in discus, will be part of a motorcade that leaves the Norman Manley International Airport at 2:00 p.m. and arrives at the National Stadium at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 14.
At the National Stadium, there will be a brief procession for the athletes where they will be serenaded by a musical medley from the Jamaica Military Band and entertainer DYCR is slated to perform his dub poem Run Veronica Run.
On Friday, October 15, the athletes will be taken to their former high schools and in the evening will attend the Prime Minister's reception at Jamaica House where the cash prizes promised to medallists by the Prime Minister will be handed over.
On Saturday, western Jamaica will get its chance to sing its
praises to the athletes when they participate in a motorcade which will travel through the heart of Montego Bay between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
JOURNEY TO TRELAWNY
On Sunday, the athletes will journey to Trelawny, the birthplace of Campbell and Usain Bolt, to attend a church service at the William Knibb Baptist Church at 10:00 a.m. They will return to Kingston on Sunday evening and attend a floral tribute at the National Heroes Park on Monday at 4:00 p.m.
The overseas-based athletes will leave the island on Tuesday.
All the events will be open to the public except the Prime Minister's reception which requires a special invitation.
