Jamaica finished third in the athletic section and 13th in the overall standing, winning 11 medals - six gold, three silver and two bronze - setting three world records and breaking one Olympic record at the 29th Olympiad in Beijing. The United States led with seven gold, nine silver and seven bronze for a total of 23 medals, followed by Russia with six gold, five silver and seven bronze for 18 medals.

Jamaica is a small country of 2.8 million people and on the basis of population ratio to large countries, the island is really the leading country. It was the best performance by any country of Jamaica's size in the modern Olympic Games. Clinton Davis, former public service leader and sportsman, described Jamaica's performance as an "amazing phenomenon". Officials at the Olympics were stunned and continually tested the Jamaicans for drugs.

Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium

There are two lessons to be learnt from Jamaica's performance. First, our athletes did not reach the top by sudden flight, but had to train hard and make sacrifices, inculcating a spirit of determination, training sometimes under adverse conditions. For example, in her early years, Melaine Walker, who broke the Olympic 400m hurdles record, jumped over barrels at home. No one can expect to reach the top without hard work. The working class must learn to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps - quite likely you will get help on the way up. At the same time, the country is expected to provide opportunities for the young people. A great deal of the social and economic problems is due to the lack of sufficient opportunities for the youth. Second, every time a gunman murders a child or the police kills an innocent youth they may be depriving the country of someone who could have risen to the greater glory of himself, family, community and country. It is time for all of us to sit up and take stock of our island.

All the medal winners are from working-class background, some from inner-city communities. Former prime minister, PJ Patterson, should be commended for helping to secure a place for Usain Bolt at the University of Technology. Bolt smashed the world 100m and 200m records at the Olympics and joined Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell in breaking the world 4x100m relay record. Former prime minister and Opposition leader, Portia Simpson Miller, contributed to the education of Melaine Walker who broke the Olympic 400m hurdles record. Walker lives in Simpson Miller's inner-city constituency. While such assistance is appreciated, what we need is a structured national development programme to assist all those who need help.

As much as Bolt demonstrated greatness in the races, I have to join in the criticism of him in two respects. First, he should not have slowed down near the finish line in the 100m in which he set a new world record. He should have maintained his speed - he had a great deal more energy in him to make it difficult for anyone to surpass the record in the future. I also agree with television commentator John Messam that Bolt should have stood at attention when his country's national anthem was being played and the Jamaican flag raised at the victory ceremony for the 100m. Obviously, someone must have spoken to Bolt before the victory ceremony for the 200m. It takes a man of strong character to make such comments in the midst of the euphoria over Bolt's victory. In the earlier years, teams going overseas were given talks on deportment and protocol before they left.

However, I found petty the criticism by Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, of Bolt's merriment following his victory in the 100m. One could see the tension on Bolt's face as he faced the starter. His joyful jumps and dancing after the finish helped to release the tension. Many of us who participate in competitive sports have different ways of breaking the tension.

Jamaica's magnificent performance was superbly covered by the journalists who went to Beijing and commentators in Jamaica. The best television commentators were Juliet Cuthbert (TVJ) and Grace Jackson (CMC), both of whom have a great deal of experience and knowledge of athletes, they being former Olympians of distinction. They articulated their views well. Cuthbert made a profound statement when she said emphatically that organisations in the private and public sectors which should have contributed more to the development of athletics are now jumping on to the bandwagon of the athletes' success, or words to that effect. I observe many firms in the private sector placing large advertisements praising the success of the athletes. It should also be noted that many firms sponsored the Jamaica team.

However, we should bear in mind that members of the team and their coaches did not reach the Olympics just like that. The athletes had to make great sacrifice in the absence of sufficient assistance to their development. The situation has not changed significantly since I was sports editor of the Jamaica Times newspaper in the 1950s. The cry over the years has been for the government and the private sector to put more money into development.

The world is now looking more on Jamaica and we will have to defend our reputation for years to come. Government, the private sector, the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association and corporations must come together and set up a long-term development programme with a system to unearth and develop talent. Athletic clubs should be established in every parish and training expanded in the number of track and field events. I support the suggestion that the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium should be named after Bolt. Further, I suggest that the stadium be developed and equipped as an Olympic Training Centre with dormitories where athletes can go to train free of cost for the Olympics and other international track and field events.

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