Thursday, August 15, 2024 The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is urging the region to embrace sports development and sports tourism in light of the remarkable performances by Caribbean athletes at the recent Paris Olympic Games. Notable achievements include St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred and Dominica’s Thea LaFond, who earned their countries’ first-ever Olympic medals; Marileidy Paulino, who became the first Dominican woman to win Olympic gold; and Jamaica’s Roje Stona, who set a new Olympic record in men’s discus.
These historic feats have cast a global spotlight on the Caribbean’s diverse athletic talent. “The success of our athletes is a testament to the incredible talent and potential that exists in the Caribbean,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, President of CHTA. “It’s time for us to dream even bigger and invest more in developing our sports men and women across all disciplines and seek to build a strong sports tourism market, not only to support our athletes but also to reap the economic and cultural benefits this thriving industry can bring to our region.
” The recent Olympic triumphs build upon the Caribbean’s long-standing legacy of sporting excellence. Legends like Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who revolutionized track and field, and Grenadian Kirani James, whose 400m success brought attention to the smaller islands, have firmly established the region’s place on the global athletic stage. CHTA highlights the.