JULY 27 to August 12, the Caribbean community will erupt into a colourful array of cultural exhibitions and patriotic exuberance when the Luxury Included Sandals and Beaches Resorts launch their Olympic Village and Jamaica 50 centres.

The Olympic Village, described as the premier location for the ultimate Caribbean Olympic experience, will be erected at properties in Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua, Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. Guests staying on resort will get an unforgettable lifetime opportunity to embrace the spirit of the islands and the rest of the world with life size cut-outs of revered athletes, sumptuous 'stadium' food delights, event broadcasts on mega screens, international flag displays, games and other exhilarating activities. An appetite whetting Olympic fashion show, featuring chic, sporty and Avant Garde local designs, will be one of the main highlights of the international showcase.

Visitors to Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica will get a coveted, golden experience, with the merger of the Olympics and Jamaica 50 celebrations August 1 (Emancipation Day) to August 6 (Independence Day). Outstanding folk performers such as the Hatfield Cultural Group and other Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) award-winning medalists will take guests on a tour through decades of the nation's cultural history. Guests will be exposed to the rhythms, sounds and sights of mento bands, animated jonkunnu dancers, maypole and quadrille. This display of Jamaica's entertainment at its best amplifies with showcases of designs from the Sixties to present, folk game corners, historical exhibits, intricate handmade craft pieces, information booths, traditional dishes and beverages and island décor.

In preparation for the golden event, a special retreat for the Sandals Group's entertainment managers was organised where experts from the JCDC and renowned Team Jamaica lecturer, Tony Rodney, conducted workshops on traditional and contemporary music, dance and other cultural lore and development spanning the 50 years of Jamaica's independence.

"Sandals is a homegrown company, which was established during the period of Independence; and as a growing organisation with Jamaican roots, we have something to celebrate-celebrating Jamaica is celebrating Sandals," said David Ellis, operations manager for the group's entertainment division. "As a company, we see the need to generate a wider appreciation of the Caribbean beyond the sea and sand - we need to showcase the Caribbean pride and our international achievements in film, sports, fashion and politics. This year's Olympics and Independence celebrations give us the perfect opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the world and expand our reach globally."