Jamaicans able to cast their minds back to September 1988 readily recall Hurricane Gilbert, which rampaged through the centre of the island on the 12th day of that month causing previously unimaginable, horrendous devastation.

Those with a sporting bent remember that hard on the heels of “Wild Gilbert” was the 1988 Summer Olympics at which Jamaica’s Men’s 4x400m relay team and the elegant, long-striding Ms Grace Jackson lifted gloom with silver medals.

The great majority of people here never saw live on their television screens as Ms Jackson and the male 4x400m team covered themselves in glory. That’s because Gilbert had destroyed electricity infrastructure right across the country.

Some flocked to the homes of friends and neighbours blessed with electricity generators and to late-night places of leisure, similarly equipped.

Some people only had commentary on battery-powered radios.

Those relatively few who saw won’t easily forget the shared sense of awe as Ms Jackson, in lane eight, ran the race of her life to finish in a then national record 21.72 seconds behind the other-worldly American sprinter Mrs Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo).

The latter, now deceased, still holds the world record for the women’s 200 metres — 21.34 seconds.

For us, the 2024 Olympics, which opens in Paris, France, on Friday, brings back memories of 1988 because our people are still struggling to shake the consequences of Hurricane Beryl which sideswiped southern Jamaica on July 3, causing grief and destruction.

While the devastation and loss are nowhere near as extreme as was caused by Gilbert, 36 years ago, it seems thousands of Jamaica, still without electricity three weeks after Beryl, will be unable to witness live on traditional screens the exploits of their heroes in Paris.

Hence the added relevance of this newspaper’s commitment to use all available technologies to spread word, pictures, and videos for the benefit of all.

Unlike 1988, when medal expectations were relatively low, Jamaicans have become accustomed to being among the more successful countries at major Games. In that respect, optimism abounds.

At age 37, can Mrs Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, among the greatest sprinters of all time, still summon the stamina and speed to do the rounds and medal?

Can Miss Shericka Jackson recapture last year’s form which made her such an irresistible force in the 200 metres?

Can that wonderful ambassador of men’s sprint hurdling, 34 year-old Mr Hansle Parchment, replicate his Olympic gold of four years ago?

And what of an array of rising stars, men and women, in the field as well as on the track?

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing approaching these games.

The failure to qualify for the Men’s 4x400m relay will haunt the athletics fraternity for a long time.

Other negatives include the puzzling tension between administrators of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).

Extremely distressing, and surely never to be repeated, is the administrative error which led to hammer thrower Ms Nayoka Clunis missing the trip to Paris.

And yet, history teaches that, by their effort and performances, our athletes have consistently lifted spirits, pushing distress and disappointment to the sidelines.

Jamaicans wait with hope and expectation.