Another online publication has ranked Jamaican star sprinter, Usain Bolt, in the topten of the most dominant figures in the history of sport. Goal.com analmost eight year online publication, specifically aimed at football lovingfans has come out in support of Lionel Messi being the greatest football everand has included the Jamaican as one of the best.
They went a step further and ranked ten other men in various sporting disciplineswho they think measure up to Messi’s fame and dominance. The release asked“What other sportsmen have enjoyed comparable spells of dominance over their respective disciplines? Below, we have compiled an admittedly subjective top10 list of the most dominant figures in the history of sport.”
The piece on Bolt which has a picture of him after his exploits in Berlin says “The fastest man in history, Bolt currently holds the world records for both the 100 and 200 metres; records he did not just break, but absolutely obliterated ...on a cakewalk. Indeed, the reigning World and Olympic champion has recorded times that few thought humanly possible. What's even more frightening is thatthere still seems to be even more to come from the 25-year-old Jamaican. Justlike Messi, really!”
Other great athletes the site listed were: Muhammad Ali – Boxing; Wayne Gretzky – IceHockey; Roger Federer – tennis; Michael Jordan – basketball; Jonah Lomu –Rugby; Michael Phelps – Swimming; Michael Schumacher – Formula One; Sachin Tendulkar – Cricket; and Tiger Woods – Golf.
Bolt,who has the World and Olympic Records in the 100 and 200 metres plans to defend his titles at the Summer Olympic Games in London, which begins on July 27. The records are 9.58 and 19.19 seconds respectively.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Who is a SPORT TOURIST? WHY SHOULD JAMAICA INVEST IN SPORT TOURISM
A 2007 study by the World Tourism Organisation reported that Tourism is the fastest growing industry. The study also revealed that international tourism grew by 6 per cent in 2007 to 903 million international tourists. Asia, as a region is expected to have the highest growth. The same study is also reporting that the tourism figure for the Americas is forecast to grow 4.79 per cent per year.
Studies have revealed that Sports Tourism is a multi-billion dollar business, one of the fastest growing areas of the $4.5 trillion global travel and tourism industry. It has become a vast international business attracting media coverage, investment, political interest, traveling participants and spectators. It is estimated that the sports industry can be responsible for as much as 2.5 per cent of world trade.
If sport then is such a decent chunk of the overall tourism product, then there should be a comprehensive effort to attract sports tourist to a destination. There are four distinct types of sports tourism
1. Hard – Olympics, World Championships, NASCAR and Soft – Hiking, Skiing, Rowing, Boating
2. Sport Events – Any type of organised local, regional or international competition which require general movement of people
3. Sports Hall of FAME or where FAMOUS people live
4. Active participants
Jamaica’s position today, gives it three out of four of the above-mentioned areas. We have enough cricket, football, tennis, golf, track and field, netball, basketball and horse racing facilities to have a plan in place for sporting events along with paid and unpaid staff to manage the events. The World knows we have enough famous persons from this country that people will go half way around the world to see…their homes, their place of origin and where they compete. Likewise a museum with the history would be equally exciting. The pool of athletes is increasing daily as Jamaica widens its horizon in sports from athletics to volleyball (A – Z of sport).
So whether it is cricket, track and field, football, golf, tennis, netball, triathlon or the marathon events, Jamaica could do with a Major Event Plan to accommodate events geared at earning, attracting visitors and media coverage strategically positioned in between other major events around the world.
What are we waiting for? Come July 27 to August 12 the rest of the world will watch keenly Jamaica’s performance in the London Olympic Games and all the products and services the island has to offer. How will the benefits be calculated? How will this speak to preparations for Russia in 2013; Brazil in 2014 and 2016 and by extension Jamaica 2012 and beyond?
The inter-agency private and public sector teams should now put their plans in motion with the expertise required to get the requisite funding and marketing support. The Jamaica Tourist Board, JAMPRO and the Ministry of Finance must have a handle in this. Let’s resuscitate the Major Events Attraction Programme (MEAP) which has the framework for this to work.
The Sport Tourist
The profile of a sport tourist is one is in the top ten spending tourists in the world, they are more adventurous, they like to travel, they tend to take family along since sport is such big entertainment and they also tend to return to the destination that offers a great experience.
Sport tourists also travel to destinations that are easy to get to, have great accommodation, fine restaurants and offer a great entertainment package. They also like to visit destinations with history and picturesque locations. Jamaica is an ideal location for Sport Tourists.
March 2012 ©
Studies have revealed that Sports Tourism is a multi-billion dollar business, one of the fastest growing areas of the $4.5 trillion global travel and tourism industry. It has become a vast international business attracting media coverage, investment, political interest, traveling participants and spectators. It is estimated that the sports industry can be responsible for as much as 2.5 per cent of world trade.
If sport then is such a decent chunk of the overall tourism product, then there should be a comprehensive effort to attract sports tourist to a destination. There are four distinct types of sports tourism
1. Hard – Olympics, World Championships, NASCAR and Soft – Hiking, Skiing, Rowing, Boating
2. Sport Events – Any type of organised local, regional or international competition which require general movement of people
3. Sports Hall of FAME or where FAMOUS people live
4. Active participants
Jamaica’s position today, gives it three out of four of the above-mentioned areas. We have enough cricket, football, tennis, golf, track and field, netball, basketball and horse racing facilities to have a plan in place for sporting events along with paid and unpaid staff to manage the events. The World knows we have enough famous persons from this country that people will go half way around the world to see…their homes, their place of origin and where they compete. Likewise a museum with the history would be equally exciting. The pool of athletes is increasing daily as Jamaica widens its horizon in sports from athletics to volleyball (A – Z of sport).
So whether it is cricket, track and field, football, golf, tennis, netball, triathlon or the marathon events, Jamaica could do with a Major Event Plan to accommodate events geared at earning, attracting visitors and media coverage strategically positioned in between other major events around the world.
What are we waiting for? Come July 27 to August 12 the rest of the world will watch keenly Jamaica’s performance in the London Olympic Games and all the products and services the island has to offer. How will the benefits be calculated? How will this speak to preparations for Russia in 2013; Brazil in 2014 and 2016 and by extension Jamaica 2012 and beyond?
The inter-agency private and public sector teams should now put their plans in motion with the expertise required to get the requisite funding and marketing support. The Jamaica Tourist Board, JAMPRO and the Ministry of Finance must have a handle in this. Let’s resuscitate the Major Events Attraction Programme (MEAP) which has the framework for this to work.
The Sport Tourist
The profile of a sport tourist is one is in the top ten spending tourists in the world, they are more adventurous, they like to travel, they tend to take family along since sport is such big entertainment and they also tend to return to the destination that offers a great experience.
Sport tourists also travel to destinations that are easy to get to, have great accommodation, fine restaurants and offer a great entertainment package. They also like to visit destinations with history and picturesque locations. Jamaica is an ideal location for Sport Tourists.
March 2012 ©
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Experts coming in for The Business of Sport 2012
KINGSTON, March 10 – Experts in the areas of contracts, financial management, image building and psychology are among the over 20 presenters for the 2012 renewal of The Business of Sport, scheduled for Kingston, May 3 – 4 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
The two-day event, in its second year has attracted veteran NFL commentator and journalist, Steve Wyche; NBC track and field expert, Ato Boldon; financial manager Horace Madison; Personal Growth Consultant, E. Patrick Miller and ESPN Vice President, Bernard Stewart among others.
The event organizing team is seeking to establish a formula for The Business of Sport which can highlight the values of a sporting industry, a sporting brand and an athlete. According to managing partner, Christopher Samuda, “this cannot be done without establishing what the critical success factors that drive value into the industry and what elements are needed to make the formula work.”
The six major areas of this year’s conference will look at
- Contracts
- Psychology – Maintaining the Competitive Edge
- Image and Dollars
- Money Management
- Sport and Culture
- Athletes – up close and personal
Each session is expected to delve into the how and why of the specific areas, but more importantly the implementation and action plan to build the sporting industry in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean – forming partnerships with international experts.
President of The Business of Sport, Carole Beckford is optimistic that in the next three to five years, Jamaica and the Caribbean will not just be seen as a place where great athletes are prepared, but a destination that will host major events and the business matchmaking will be the order of the day. “Investment in sport is inextricably linked to a country’s culture and can be enhanced once the framework is created,” Beckford added.
“As a special tribute to Jamaica’s 50th, the conference will feature a discussion about Sport and Culture – to identify how much more they can be effectively managed to develop bigger income streams for Jamaica. These two industries have consistently given Jamaica positive exposure and should be developed further,” said Beckford. The speakers confirmed for that session are noted brand strategists, Kam-Au Amen, Dr. Christopher Charles and Dr. Sonjah Stanley Niaah.
The conference last year was attended by over 103 participants from Jamaica, the Caribbean, Canada and the USA.
The event this year will be streamed live for a small fee. Early bird registration is US$150 at www.thebusinessofsport.org and if you register up to 21 days to the event it will cost US$175.
Partnerships are being established with FLOW Jamaica, Wisynco (WATA), Jamaica Pegasus, EXIM Bank, JAMPRO, KLAS Sport Radio, KOOL 97 FM, Island Car Rental, Samuda and Johnson and the Jamaica Tourist Board, so far.
The event is a production of Carole Beckford and Associates and Strategic Corporate Interventions.
Contact: The Business of Sport
thebusinessofsport@gmail.com
www.thebusinessofsport.org
(876) 754 5637/8
Saturday, March 3, 2012
WICB and Caribbean Relevance
The recent unfortunate outburst in the form of a letter from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller, has caused me great concern in how today's leaders will impact on the next generation in terms of leadership, management, human relations and even how to relate to each other. We often think that the ones who shout the loudest are the ones with the most sense; but in fact they are most times the ones with less to contribute.
The community spirit which once existed with us being our brothers' keepers needs to return and I would like to see the Caribbean being posited as
destination for Business
destination for Sport
destination where people can grow their children and relate to each other respectfully
destination where visitors will want to come to, to relax and enjoy the rich culture
destination where our young entrepreneurs will thrive because elements of Government/Governance have been created to enable growth and development
...and I could go on
We ought to be able to work out what is best for us. Each region is doing what is requires to survive, however, the globalised economy does not require the kind of infighting that is showing its ugly head. We the Caribbean people have some areas that we have shown the world we are strong at and it is high time we maintain that status quo
Cricket is the one sport we have as a region and it should be worthy of proper and effective management. What Ernest Hilaire and Julian Hunte and the rest of the Board have done to cricket is worthy of punishment; however as we seek to resolve this in short order we ask that a mediation team be set up to come to closure.
Again I ask the question...What good is CARICOM or UWI for that matter, both Caribbean-wide organisation and institution?
Without calling names, I would hope we people with integrity and credibility in the region we can call to intervene. This is urgent matter and must be dealt with now. Two weeks ago I urged the WICB to resolve the Jamaica/Chris Gayle impasse within 30 days....there are 15 days left. I wish we would honour this and MOVE ON.
I wait patiently for an amicable solution.
The community spirit which once existed with us being our brothers' keepers needs to return and I would like to see the Caribbean being posited as
destination for Business
destination for Sport
destination where people can grow their children and relate to each other respectfully
destination where visitors will want to come to, to relax and enjoy the rich culture
destination where our young entrepreneurs will thrive because elements of Government/Governance have been created to enable growth and development
...and I could go on
We ought to be able to work out what is best for us. Each region is doing what is requires to survive, however, the globalised economy does not require the kind of infighting that is showing its ugly head. We the Caribbean people have some areas that we have shown the world we are strong at and it is high time we maintain that status quo
Cricket is the one sport we have as a region and it should be worthy of proper and effective management. What Ernest Hilaire and Julian Hunte and the rest of the Board have done to cricket is worthy of punishment; however as we seek to resolve this in short order we ask that a mediation team be set up to come to closure.
Again I ask the question...What good is CARICOM or UWI for that matter, both Caribbean-wide organisation and institution?
Without calling names, I would hope we people with integrity and credibility in the region we can call to intervene. This is urgent matter and must be dealt with now. Two weeks ago I urged the WICB to resolve the Jamaica/Chris Gayle impasse within 30 days....there are 15 days left. I wish we would honour this and MOVE ON.
I wait patiently for an amicable solution.
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