MONTEGO BAY, St James — Blending the inclusive spirit of Special Olympics and the vibrant culture of Jamaica was the cornerstone of the Caribbean Beach Games launch at S Hotel Montego Bay on Tuesday.

The Special Olympics Caribbean Beach Games is to be held at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, November 18-22.

Harmony Beach Park, managed by the State-run Urban Development Corporation, is in close proximity to Sangster International Airport and a host of hotels on Montego Bay’s famous hip strip, making it a convenient location for visiting delegations and officials.

The beach games — the first of its kind in Jamaica — is expected to attract approximately 20 Special Olympics regional programmes participating in swimming, football, volleyball, basketball, and bocce.

Stakeholders, including the Jamaican Government, St James Municipal Corporation, the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders, and the security force through the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), have endorsed the event.

Montego Bay Deputy Mayor Dwight Crawford, standing in for Mayor Richard Vernon, delivered a heartfelt welcome in his keynote address to athletes, coaches, families and volunteers.

“On behalf of the St James Municipal Corporation and the people of Montego Bay, we thank you for joining us for what promises to be a truly memorable occasion.

“Today is about much more than sport. It is about people. It is about bringing our Caribbean family together, celebrating talent, creating opportunities, and showing what is possible when we believe in one another.

“We [in Montego Bay] are known around the world for our hospitality, our culture, and our beautiful coastline, but what makes this city truly special is its people,” Crawford said.

He had special praise for people with disabilities whom he said have motivated others in various sectors of society.

“To our athletes, thank you for inspiring us. Every one of you has worked hard to get here. Behind every athlete is a story of determination, discipline, sacrifice, and encouragement from family members, coaches, teachers, and friends. You remind us that success is not measured only by medals but by the courage to keep going, to keep improving, and to never give up.

“These Games give us an opportunity to focus on ability instead of limitation. They remind us that everyone deserves the chance to participate, to compete, and to be celebrated,” the deputy mayor said.

The showpiece in November is to be the second such regional beach games, following in the footsteps of the successful inaugural 2024 staging in Trinidad and Tobago.

Special Olympics Caribbean Executive Director Lorna Bell highlighted the transformative value of another headline-grabbing staging of the games.

“These games will celebrate inclusion, unity, and the incredible abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities while creating a lasting legacy for Montego Bay and western Jamaica,” she said during the launch.

“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and enthusiasm shown by all our stakeholders. We are demonstrating that when the Caribbean works as one, we can create opportunities that transform lives.

“We look forward to welcoming delegations from across the region in November for what promises to be a historic celebration of sport, friendship, and inclusion,” Bell said.

Aldrick McNab, chairman of Special Olympics Jamaica, said he hopes participants will have the time of their lives during the games.

“The launch of the Caribbean Beach Games is a significant milestone in the history of Special Olympics Jamaica. For the very first time we will be hosting an international event of this magnitude — overs 200 athletes from across the Caribbean will be competing over four days for top honours in five disciplines. And whilst we will be basking in the excitement of competition, we want to ensure our visitors enjoy the experience of a lifetime,” McNab said.

Lee Bailey, a Montego Bay-based businessman and head of the organising committee, pointed to the global impact of Special Olympics.

“It is a powerful movement that showcases courage, determination and friendship and the limitless potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

“Every athlete who steps on to the field of play is a champion who will inspire us through perseverance, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence,” Bailey said.

David Evangelista, chief executive officer of Special Olympics International, noted benefits of the games and the growth of the movement in the Caribbean.

“This is not just a sporting event, this is a platform brought to us by the incredible country of Jamaica, and one of our fastest and most exciting regions in Special Olympics — the Caribbean, reinforcing the transformative power that our unified platform brings to people with and without intellectual disabilities. We’re creating opportunities for connection, discovery and for excellence, and we’re doing it unified,” Evangelista said.

A torch run is to be staged in October as a fund-raiser ahead of the regional beach games.

Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay, the LETR national director, noted that the purpose of the run is to raise funds for Special Olympics Jamaica, and to “create awareness and inclusion for persons living with intellectual disabilities.”

Lindsay added: “The JCF has led this charge for 40 years. Jamaica made history as the first country outside of the United States to have a Torch Run programme.

“LETR is a global movement of law enforcement, and we are proud to be the number one fundraiser for Special Olympics worldwide. And in Jamaica, it’s no different. We are the most consistent fundraiser and support organisation for our athletes.”

— Sanjay Myers