Exercise, being an aspect of sport, helps people especially elders who are sick. Doctors give special types of exercises that they should concentrate on known as therapy. Swimming and cycling are two important sporting activities that help people restore their health.

Sport also brings a lot of finances into Jamaica. Some of the sports that people pay to watch are cricket, football, netball and basketball. A favourite among Jamaicans is athletics. Every four years the whole world takes part in the Olympics.

Jamaica has great athletes and they always do very well. We are proud of Jamaicans and their involvement in sports.

Sport also plays an integral role in the lives of young people in the communities. It helps assist in building strong friendships and relationships.

Rackeisha Houde, Age: 12, Bellevue Primary and Junior High

Sports help to build our economic activities and unites different races and nations and help us to bring Jamaicans together as one. When our athletes went to Beijing and brought us victory, people came from all over the world just to see where they came from. Usain Bolt brought fame to himself and his country Jamaica. We were sure proud of our girls, Sherone Simpson, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart, who, because of their skills and speed, got Jamaica one gold and two silver medals in one race. Jamaica made history again!

In 1997, when the Reggae Boyz qualified for the World Cup, tears of joy flooded the National Stadium and Jamaica on a whole. This also brought much fame to Jamaica.

Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint and George Rhoden were among the first to bring fame to Jamaica in sports. They represented their country well at national and international track meets and set the pace for today's athletes.

Jamaica is now known all over the world for its athletes. Truly we can say that sports have helped in a great way to put Jamaica on the world map.

- Jordel Carty, Villa Road Primary and Junior High, Grade: 6J

Donald Quarrie was a very sickly child, his father was very poor and decided to let him do track and field to build up his system. Now Quarrie is in good health and is known as one of the world's greatest athletes. Sport is good for physical education and sport can also help our country to unite and bring down the crime rate.

Some of the children in Jamaica have no skills and because of that they turn out to be murderers, rapists and thieves. All of this is not good for the country. What Jamaica needs to do is to get more children involved in sport and that will help them to cooperate and work together as a team. Rules are provided to keep children disciplined and that helps them. People may say bad things are easy to do but good things are hard. You have to put much effort into it and make the good things easy and the bad things hard.

Let us look at Usain Bolt, he could have been a murderer but he put effort into sport and now he is the world's fastest man. Asafa could have been a thief but he put effort into sport and now he is the world's second fastest man.

Sport must be enjoyable and fun to everybody. In the future, our young ones will be champions. So let us invest in them now. That is one of the prime reasons sport is good for Jamaica.

- Samantha Campbell, Grade: 6J, Villa Road Primary and Junior High

My favourite athletes are Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Deon Burton and Marlon King. The best two sports I like are football and cricket. I like them because they inspire me. Sport is also good for inner-city communities like Tivoli, Arnett, Rema, Jungle, Reno and others. I strongly believe that if the inner-cities were more active in sport that the crime and violence would soon stop. Talented youngsters are on the street and have nothing to do. I believe that sport can help take them off the street and give something to do in today's world.

When I see athletes running and competing for Jamaica I feel inspired by their performances, especially the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt. I believe he could play a major part in building Jamaica's future. For example, look at the great sport icon, Herb McKenley, who played a role in making Jamaica a famous country in sport. I would really like to see Jamaica changed by sport but only God can create that hope. I believe that one day I will be famous for Jamaica in sport. I strive for excellence and have hope and confidence.

- Shandae Barnett, Age: 10, Inverness Primary

They go into schools and communities and it does not even matter where you are from. As long as you have the ability and drive to pursue a sports career, there will be help for you.

When I hear of the Sunshine Girls and the Reggae Boyz and what they have achieved, it makes me very proud to be in the island.

Just recently, the athletes of track and field, did us proud and made the world recognise us in a very different light - other than crime.

Places that never knew us got to; and it was just an awesome feeling for me.

Sport has done, and is still doing, a whole lot more for Jamaica and the youths who thought they had no future, as it gives them hope.

I would encourage all teenagers and smaller children to get involved, one way or the other, in sport. There are enough areas that can be filled by us and sport provides a positive place in which we can channel our energy.

- Dainah C. Shepherd, Age:12, Yallahs Primary, St Thomas

But in discussions with my parents, they agree that these are true but not everyone knows of these things all over the world.

However, in the field of sport, Jamaicans are known all over the world. My parents often talk about some names that have made Jamaica proud. Names such as George Headley, fondly called 'Atlas' and rated among the greatest cricketers of all time, and Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey and Deon Hemmings, athletes of days gone by who are always linked with Jamaica.

As excellent as they were, I can personally say that I have seen on the television and read in the papers about our 2008 athletes performances in Beijing, China. Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Melaine Walker and Veronica Campbell-Brown were part of a team of Jamaicans who, by their great success, put Jamaica on the world map. Today, because of sport and our proud results, people from every nation are asking about Jamaica and seeking to visit as tourists or to train here. I am one very proud Jamaican and all Jamaicans are happy because of sport and our sportsmen and women. I am even hoping to one day become like Shelly-Ann Fraser, my hero.

- Shedene Alexander, Age: 12, Vauxhall High, Kingston

Kicking stretches our leg bones. Running stretches our leg and arm bones. Jumping stretches all of our bones. If we did not do sports everybody would be lazy everyday Sport is good for Jamaica because it keeps us in shape.

Sport is so important to Jamaica because Jamaicans can't last without it. People need sport to better themselves. We play everyday at school and home. Sport is the best thing ever to me, to you, to everybody. Sports is so important, Jamaicans cannot resist it. Sport is good for Jamaica because it helps us to socialise. Sport made us have the fastest man. Sports is best.

- Kymani Cole, Age: 8, Holy Rosary Primary

Some of the sports that Jamaicans get happiness from are car racing, athletics, golf, netball, basketball, football, cricket and swimming. Jamaicans enjoy themselves in many different ways and that would not happen if it were not for sports. The celebration of sport will always bring unity. Jamaicans will always love sport because they love it when we unite. Jamaicans always show love to one another when there is a sporting event taking place.

Jamaicans showed love for sports - especially during this year's Olympics. Because Jamaicans love sport, it makes them do the right things in their homes, their communities and in their country.

The love of sport should encourage Jamaicans to respect and love everyone. Football is one of the sports that makes everyone live in peace and love with families. Sport sometimes make us forget to go to church.

Sport is also good for Jamaica because whenever sporting events are held here people who do not have jobs sometimes find work. They are able to sell snacks and help in many different areas such as security and the selling of tickets so that they can care for their children. Also, people from other countries come to Jamaica for sport and, as a result, it earns money for Jamaica. Sport is especially good for Jamaica because we make money for our athletes. Sport can make us rich!

- Shakera Richards Needham, Yabnel Care Centre, Mandeville, Grade 3

Sport also helps to unite people, it slows down crime when everyone stops to watch the athletes. It helps to develop the physical and mental capacity of individuals that is why I think sport is important to my school, community and my country.

- Janielle Gordon, Age: 10, Brown's Hall Primary, St Catherine

The sport next in line that makes me happy is football. Football is a really hard game to play and takes a lot of concentration, planning and strategising. It also takes good technique and a great deal of energy to play because you have to be running up and down the field. Next I like basketball and this game makes me very happy. This game requires height. Without height you can barely sink a basket. There are many ways of scoring such as dunking and lay-ups and many others, but I don't know the names of all the moves. Now you know why sports make me happy. I hope you could relate to my experiences.

- Akeen Bell, Villa Road Primary and Junior High, Grade: 6J

Sport is good for Jamaica because it enhances our performances in national and international competitions. We could go down in history as the land of sportsmen and women. However, in order to achieve such excellence and reach such great heights, we must first establish rules such as discipline, endurance and sportsmanship.

There are some things that prevent people, students in particular, from wanting to be sportsmen and one is peer pressure. Therefore, if you have a special sport that you are good at and your allies are willing to learn, teach them everything you know about the sport. Teach them also to be good sportsmen because at international competitions we are representing Jamaica and one mistake could mislead tourists, onlookers and even our fellow Jamaicans to think that Jamaica is not a great place to be. I am a writer and sportsman, so let me be on example for you. If you are sportsman but have another skill, don't be afraid to pursue both because, in the end, one might not work out and the other might. Therefore go after them both. When I'm happy, everyone around me is happy and sport makes me happy.

- Jordan Miller, Age: 12, Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High

Another reason why it makes me happy is because it helps to influence people and give people stuff to do. I am very happy with sport when I see people enjoying themselves and trying new sports.

I think football, netball, tennis and skydiving are excellent sports. Although skydiving is dangerous, it is still a good sport.

Sport brings happiness to everyone in different ways and when I see sport it just makes me smile and happy for no reason at all. Sport is just happiness and happiness is sport. Sport is fun, sport is what makes the world go round. Sport is good for the brain and for the heart.Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year

- David Jonathon Stone

Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory, Grade: 6