Firstly I would like to point out that the Winter Olympics this year have been one of the most talked about Winter Olympics ever. Amidst all the scandals and negative comments about budget overruns etc. The one exciting and unique thing about the olympics is that Jamaica is back in it for the first time since the cool runnings movie.
Now, this time around a movie definitely needs to be made. Why? See plot below.
Jamaican bobsled team qualifies for Sochi
Jamaican Olympic association has no money to pay for the team to go to Sochi
Jamaican Athletes have no idea how they will get there but they stay motivated and keep training hard despite not having any way of knowing how they will make it to Sochi.
Jamaicans engage crowd funding from indiegogo and other crowd funding websites and surpass their required funding target so much so they have to ask fans to stop donating funds. Over US$170,000 in 1 week.
Jamaicans get to Sochi but their equipment does not.
Jamaicans get their equipment 2 days late and begin training after the uncertainty of finding their gears.
Jamaicans are predicted to do well. In 2 weeks we will know for sure who the real winners are of this Olympics.
Is it the Jamaican team? Is it the Jamaica Tourist board? Is it Sochi? Is it Putin? We will see in two weeks who the real winners are.
I am betting that win or lose Jamaica has won. Jamaica has now found a way to raise funding for all their national teams.
The diaspora can now help to fund Jamaica and Jamaica will or should continue to improve.
Rory Marsh
876-277-2934
rorymarsh@yahoo.com
Hi Rory,I like you article and it's so true the BRAND JAMAICA is the WINNER HERE,it Show that the Diaspora has what it takes to Assisting to Build Jamaica,we all give them thanks for Contributing to the Cause which they like,People in other countries are using CROWD FUNDING/SOURCING to Start & Expand Jamaicans can do the Same with PROPER VETTING so the Funds will go to where the Diaspora(s) would like for it to go
ReplyDeleteJust some corrections here. Jamaica has been to the winter olympics three times since the Cool Runnings movie (2002, 1998 and 1994) and we went twice before the movie came out (1988 and 1992). The movie was in 1993. The Jamaica Olympic Association had made it clear before the team even qualified that they would pay for airfare, accommodation and food for the team. I do believe that is customary for Jamaican teams. The problem was that they needed money for equipment, training and to pay outstanding bills incurred during training.
ReplyDeleteNot withstanding those factual inaccuracies, your article does make a good point and Jamaica is the winner here.
I thank you for providing actual dates. As someone mentioned today on BBC, the performances in Sochi have all been very commendable. However, the aesthetics of the Sochi venues have been magnificent. This backdrop can only add to the magnitude of this event.
DeleteSince writing my blog on Friday I did a survey among 10 close friends in Jamaica and they all agreed that this is the first time that they have heard of Sochi for one, but also, the first time since watching the Cool Runnings movie that they have actively watched or listened to updates from a winter Olympics.
I have been getting very positive feedback from the Jamaican Diaspora who wants to contribute in some way or form to any specific activities that will benefit Jamaica.
With over 4,000 page views to the blog in 2 days I want to believe that Jamaica is on to something here.
Some people have asked about what crowd funding is. You can see a little about it on the following website www.indiegogo.com
ReplyDeleteThere are several other sites, but I read that this is the one that the Jamaican team used.
Jamaica is still in 30 position with a best time of 58.42... -2.17 off pace... there is still one more heat to go (Thursday) with the top 20 teams moving on
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