Leighton Levy, Freelance Writer
Former 100-metre world-record holder Asafa Powell in action. - FILE
With Jamaican athletes expected to reap a rich bounty of medals at the Olympic Games, which begin in Beijing, China, this weekend, Olympic fever is beginning to intensify in Jamaica.
On July 25, Track and Field News - a magazine considered the bible of the sport - predicted that Jamaica's athletes, led by 100-metre world-record holder Usain Bolt and defending 200-metre champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, will win as many as 12 medals in track and field, including three gold.
Other pundits say Jamaican athletes could win as many as five gold medals. Ifthose predictions hold true, it will be the largest ever medal haul for Jamaica, a traditional powerhouse in the sport.
However, while the excitement surrounding the medal hunt is expected to be at an all-time high, some of the island's sports bars and similar places of business are taking a wait-and-see approach, mainly because the events in which most Jamaicans are interested are going to be aired early mornings and the businesses usually open later in the day.
They will be more than prepared to capitalise on those events airing during their operating hours, offering a variety of specials to their customers.
Tricia Robins, who heads up marketing at the Margaritaville chain that operates in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, explains that it is challenging to have special promotions running because most people will still be at home from where they would prefer to watch the unfolding events.
Special promotions
She says any plans for special Olympic promotions are still not complete, but proposals for anything special, should be in place by later this week. In the meantime, she says television sets will be on all the time so patrons can watch the events and enjoy drink specials that will be available.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Yakema Sewell of Indies Sports Bar and Lounge on Holborn Road in St Andrew. She says there will be pizza and beer specials on offer to patrons watching any of its 25 television sets.
Sewell also says if a group of people expresses an interest in going to Indies to watch the Olympics events that are on early, the company will consider opening its doors outside of the 11 a.m. regular start of business.
Cuddyz on Dominica Drive plans to be more accommodating. Traditionally a lunch and dinner establishment, Cuddyz plans to open early to accommodate patrons who want to watch the Olympics, primarily the men's and women's 100-metres finals that are scheduled about 9:30 am.
Jeanelle Wadell, a manager at Cuddyz, revealed plans to serve breakfast and noted that the drink menu has already been overhauled to include new concoctions like the Lightning Bolt and the Golden Girls, no doubt inspired by Usain Bolt and Jamaica's fast female sprint quartet who are favoured to win the sprint relay gold medal.
Interest
Wadell says individual groups have been expressing interest in watching several events at the popular eatery.
"A group of gymnasts wants to come and watch the gymnastics, and there are groups that want to watch all the other sports," she said, adding that the biggest buzz is about the track and field events.
During the nights, Cuddyz will show replays of the early morning events and whatever other events happen to be on at that time.
Pratap Roy, the manager at Peppers Nightclub on Upper Waterloo Road in Kingston, says he does not plan to open early. But he plans on putting two 42-inch television sets at each of the three bars at the club.
"People can come and watch the TV's and drink and eat," he said.
Peppers is usually opened at 4 p.m. but Roy said he would consider opening early, only if a group of customers requests that he do so but they have to be buying drinks.
The proprietors of Ken's Wildflower in Portmore, St Catherine, perhaps the most popular entertainment spot in that community, have yet to decide what they are going to do during the two weeks when Jamaica's best athletes will be on show.
