Dear Reader,
The stage has been set and the doors have been flung open. Not even if we Jamaicans had written the script ourselves, could we have chronicled it so perfectly.

The Beijing Olympics now being dubbed the "Jamaica Olympics", has the mark of Jamaica indelibly stamped all over it, and not only are the historians busy with fresh material, but the world has been placed on full alert - the Jamaicans are coming!

While Usain Bolt is the undisputed superstar, the display of talent, courage and in some instances sheer grit demonstrated the width and depth of the Jamaican contingent. If Bob Marley and reggae music had not already provided worldwide fame, the Olympics have consolidated that public relations exercise. Whether we are ready for it, Jamaica has arrived, and the challenge before us now is exactly how are we going to capitalise on this glorious opportunity - how are we going to mine gold after Beijing?

It took this country a long time to recognise that the most important resource we possess is our people. Over the years we have invested in an assortment of material stock - buildings, roads, highways, and all other types of infrastructure, almost completely oblivious to the fact that it is the people who are the currency of the nation, and right now that stock is at an all-time premium.

What our Jamaican athletes demonstrated in Beijing was more than track-and-field genius. What they exhibited was the spirit of Jamaica, a spirit so rich and colourful, that in the case of Bolt, became misinterpreted by some as "showboating". Far from being arrogant or disrespectful, Bolt, thumping his chest, removing his shoes to walk barefooted and getting down to dance the Nuh Linga and Gully Creeper, showed the world our version of celebrating. When the packed stadium responded with not one, but two Happy Birthday renditions to Bolt, it became clear that the Jamaican spirit had captivated the people's attention, despite the critics.

Detractors aside, it is clear that Usain Bolt is a very special young man with an indomitable and charismatic spirit. The manner in which he handed the baton in the relay to Asafa Powell was nothing short of an act of love and camaraderie. He would tell us that the words he spoke to Asafa as he handed it over were, "Go for it, go get it." So badly did he want Asafa to get the gold medal, that even after handing him the baton, he ran behind Asafa like a mother protecting her young.

At home, the spirit of Beijing could not be contained, even for those of us who had acquired advanced seats to the Olympics by attending our national trials in July. Just when many Jamaicans had seemingly forgotten how to jump and scream and dance, our bodies began moving, and I for one felt a special kind of joy that I could barely articulate. In a country where there has been very little in our daily lives to remind us that we are one people, the Beijing spirit re-connected and reaffirmed our oneness. Half-Way-Tree Square was transformed into a melting pot and a kaleidoscope of shades and sizes, and for a moment, class and colour didn't matter.

Our inner-city communities held their own celebrations. In Maxfield and Waterhouse, the jubilant spontaneity was infectious. Household items like pot covers and graters were ingeniously transformed into musical instruments. As the parents and members of the communities spoke, a completely different picture of inner-city life emerged. "Nothing no wrong with garrison community", one man said. "We a no fool. Good things come from the ghetto," he shouted.

The mother of Shelly-Ann Fraser, gold medallist in the 100 metres, thanked Jesus Christ and the power of prayer for her daughter's success. She recounted the day-to-day challenges of providing for her daughter, and the sacrifices that were made to send Shelly-Ann to high school and for her to pursue her athletic career. With her voice cracking and visibly overwhelmed, she called for gunmen to put down their weapons.

For the rest of the society the questions are: How can we support the call for peace now emerging from our inner cities? How can our country harness and consolidate the gains of Beijing and the spirit of hope and national pride that have been engendered? How can we package the happiness and the love into tangible and sustainable benefits for all the citizens of the country?

The possibilities are endless. With China and the rest of the world standing ready to be engaged, our country has an opportunity to sell Brand Jamaica like never before. Not only should we be seeking to "ratchet-up" our export market, but we should be simultaneously investigating how we can encourage entities like Puma and others, to establish manufacturing plants here in Jamaica.

Our agricultural sector is especially poised to take off. With our food being linked to the success of our athletes, the markets for ground provisions - yam, cassava, cocoa, dasheen, etc - are simply waiting to be tapped. A move to organically produced crops, would further the attractiveness and the financial gains.

To all our athletes I say, thank you. We are grateful for what you have done for your country. The rest of us must now take to the tracks and continue to mine gold after Beijing!

With love,
bab2609@yahoo.com

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World