It’s not possible to precisely quantify the value of sport to Jamaica .

What we can all say for certain though, is that for generations, Jamaica’s leading sportsmen and women have metaphorically ‘placed’ their country on the map and consistently lifted the psyche of their people.

Those were facts even before the legendary cricketer Mr George Headley stamped his mark in the 1930s and the iconic track athletic trailblazers Messrs Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint and George Rhoden, et al, set the world alight in the late 40s and early 50s.

Those truths are even more to be emphasised today, given that Jamaica’s top sports competitors, led by the incomparable Mr Usain Bolt, have been critical to the evolution of the highly attractive Brand Jamaica. It’s a fact recognised at every turn by those who promote and market tourism and other Jamaican products on the global stage.

It should be understood then, that observers from many other countries – especially richer, more developed ones – may be a little taken aback that Jamaica is only now implementing an insurance scheme for its sporting representatives.

Jamaicans could console themselves with the thought that the new development provides more hard evidence that little by little, their country is growing up.

The nation could also comfort itself with the words of the head of the cricket association, Mr Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, that “we can all sit back and say it’s overdue, but I also believe nothing happens before its time”.

The truth, though, is that regardless of any annoyance at how long it has taken, this newspaper must applaud the Government for finally making an insurance scheme happen for those who represent the nation in sport.

For make no mistake about it, in a country with such competing demands as underfunded health, education, national security, and social security it can’t have been easy for the Government to commit to this project. As we understand it, effective February 1, the Jamaican Athletes’ Insurance Plan (JAIP) aims to provide sustainable health and life insurance, pension and retirement coverage for 1,323 national athletes from 28 sporting bodies who are deemed eligible under agreed criteria.

As far as this newspaper can make out, the Government has not yet said how much the JAIP will cost.

What’s being said is that the Government is to contribute 95 per cent, while collectively, the sporting bodies are to cover the remaining five per cent.

We are told that funding to support the insurance plan for the next three years will come from State-run agencies, the Sports Development Foundation, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, and the National Health Fund.

Obviously, as is the case with every aspect of life, there will be challenges and difficulties ahead. But if this project is properly managed, there is little doubt that it will become what Taekwondo athlete Mr Bruce Rickman called a ‘game-changer’.

A major task for sporting associations and other stakeholders will be to watch this project with hawk-like intensity to ensure it is sustained and that Jamaican competitors and national sporting interests are protected. To begin with, they must make sure that regardless of who wins the February 25 election, the JAIP remains intact and on track.