In celebration of Paralympic Day on Monday, president of the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) Christopher Samuda is calling on the private sector to make a greater investment in para sports locally.

The island’s para-athletes have consistently competed at regional and international events over the years and are currently in preparation for this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer, Samuda said the athletes’ success shows that they are deserving of more support.

“I think a lot of our corporate interests must see the value in our paralympians. We have had para-athletes and paralympians with distinguished performances, not only regionally but internationally. We have to understand that despite the difficulties and challenges, we have human beings here in Jamaica representing us who have overcome those challenges and have become champions of the world. We need to look at the Paralympic movement as an investment just as how we look at other movements as an investment,” he said.

He also believes the athletes’ personalities and achievements outside of the sport would bode well for corporate organisations.

“We have, in the paralympic movement, a lot of standard-bearers. We have persons who are attending universities pursuing career opportunities while excelling on the field of play; I have an athlete who represented us at the Parapan Games and he is going for his doctorate. So, we not only have athletes excelling on the field of play — but also in academia — that are doing exceptionally well,” Samuda said.

“The paralympic movement is also expanding into other disciplines, we used to be exclusively track and field and to an extent swimming; we are now into nine, 10 other disciplines, and doing exceptionally well. So, look at it as an investment that will be bang for the buck because my para-athletes can handle media interviews and are very good in terms of their commitment and discipline in their own craft and academic interest,” he added.

On Monday, the JPA hosted a rededication ceremony of the Paralympic Flame which is on display in the departure lounge at the Norman Manley International Airport.

The lit petal was gifted to Jamaica for being one of the 164 countries to participate at the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

Samuda says the rededication was important to signal the value of para-athletes in the country.

“This represents the hope, the aspiration, the inspiration of the Paralympic movement and we are privileged to have one of the first petals that were in the Paralympic flame. It represents the very essence and spirit of the Paralympics; it lights the path of our para-athletes and it says whatever darkness descends, there is light and that light will transition to excellence.”

“We feel it is important for our para-athletes and paralympians to realise the spirit in the flame that drives them and transitions them into the Paralympic stage. This flame will be burning continually and we’re hoping persons who travel through the departure lounge will not only look at the flame and know the Paralympic movement is alive and well but also to gain inspiration from the light that is continually lighting the path of our para-athletes and paralympians,” he said.