BIRMINGHAM, England — President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Christopher Samuda is looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games and believes that the Birmingham 2022 edition will provide an important platform for the realisation of his organisation’s target of qualifying for 20 sporting disciplines for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Samuda, speaking ahead of today’s opening ceremony at Alexander Stadium, is also expecting Jamaica’s athletes to deliver an impressive performance in Birmingham against the backdrop of Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence on August 6, two days before the closing ceremony, as well as considering the city’s rich Jamaican presence.

“We have an umbilical connection to the Commonwealth Games, from a historical perspective, and we always encourage our athletes and our administrators to support the Commonwealth Games. I expect Birmingham to be very good — you know that there is a Diaspora presence here and I would even say it’s an epicentre when it comes to the Diaspora — and they have been very helpful and very supportive,” Samuda told the Jamaica Observer.

“I expect us to surpass that which we established in the Gold Coast. And, this is home for many Jamaicans therefore we wish to take advantage of this environment and ensure that we go beyond the expectations of the people,” he added.

Jamaica won a record 27 medals at the 2018 games in Australia.

Samuda has not been shy about his ambition to see Jamaica represented in 20 events at the next installment of the Olympic Games in two years. The island competed in six events at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 17 sports that will feature Jamaican athletes in Birmingham are the most ever contested by the island at the Commonwealth Games, and Samuda believes it presents an opportunity from which the island can benefit in the coming years.

“Any previous event will give us an indication; it’s a sounding board for what will be in the ensuing games. We have a strategic objective at the JOA to ensure that we have at least 20 competitive sports in Paris. We can do it but people have to understand that it not only takes hard work, but commitment as well,” said Samuda.

“What we are doing is looking at the strategic path for each sport in terms of their qualifying for the games. We will have to do that because, of course, the competition is very robust and therefore we have to be very strategic in terms of which tournaments, which competitions we will do — particularly in the individual sports. We have the commitment of our athletes, we have the commitment of our presidents and secretaries general to embrace that vision,” he added.

“Our athletes always have a sense of place and a sense of time, and I have no doubt that they realise that Independence is imminent and that they will, of course, give something special. They’ve never lost a sense of place and sense of time, and we have always encouraged them to have that in mind, of course, and that’s the mark of a champion … when you will know when to perform, and not only perform but also to inspire others. Independence will bring a special frame of mind and I’m sure it will translate into the performance of athletes during the games,” said Samuda.

Meanwhile, international netball star Jhaniele Fowler and Rugby 7s Captain Oshane Edie will carry Jamaica’s flag at today’s ceremony which begins at 7:00 pm (1:00 pm Jamaica time) inside the recently refurbished 30,000-capacity venue.

Additionally, Sunshine Girls defender Shamera Sterling and badminton player Samuel Ricketts have been named as team captains for the island’s contingent at the games, with young swimmers Zaneta Alvaranga and Sydrell Williams given the honour of carrying Jamaica’s flag during the closing ceremony on August 8.