Above: Kirani James (FP)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Grenada’s Kirani James returned to form with a 400-metre victory in London this weekend, and now the country’s ruling party is calling on Grenadians to step up their support.
The victory came a little over a month after James suffered a false start at Oregon’s Prefontaine Classic.
James is one of several Grenadian track and field athletes who will be representing the tri-island state in the Olympic Games, along with some in swimming and taekwondo. (For more information, check out CJ’s interview with fellow Grenadian track star Rondell Bartholomew).
“Let us show our national pride and fervor as an act of appreciation to our young men and women who will be carrying the Grenada flag in London,” said Arley Gill, spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress, in a statement this weekend.
“Getting to the Olympics is tough for any athlete; winning a medal is even tougher,” Gill said. “What I would like us to all do, though, is step up our public display of support for our Olympians, pray for them, and wish them the best of health and luck.”
It was the latest such call by Gill, who made a similar call in March, saying August 2012 “could very well be a watershed moment in the development of the country.”
With a sizable Caribbean contingent on hand this year in London, it is likely that the event will provide a significant amount of attention for the region.
Gill has said that is particularly important for the potential of sports tourism in the Caribbean.
“Let us all do whatever we can to support these outstanding young men and women who are headed for the Olympic Games,” he said.