THE Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund (CHASE) has provided a significant boost to the 2026 Special Olympics Caribbean Beach Games by committing just under $1 million to support health screening of athletes during the event.

The beach games, to be hosted at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James, November 18-22, is expected to attract approximately 20 Special Olympics regional programmes participating in swimming, football, volleyball, basketball and bocce.

The health screening programme — a key facet of the Special Olympics movement — allows special needs athletes free access to general health-care services.

CHASE Fund Chief Executive Officer Wilford “Billy” Heaven underlined the State-run entity’s long-standing partnership with Special Olympics.

“The CHASE Fund has an established commitment to supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities and creating opportunities for participation and inclusion. CHASE has supported Special Olympics Jamaica for many years, including funding national games and regional initiatives.

“The Fund is pleased to contribute J$945,725 to the Special Olympics Caribbean Beach Games. For us, this is more than a financial contribution — it is an investment in inclusion, opportunity and the tremendous potential of athletes with intellectual disabilities,” he said.

“At CHASE, we believe that every Jamaican and every Caribbean athlete should have the opportunity to participate, compete and reach their fullest potential.

Optometrist Dr Dawn Woo-Lawson

“We are particularly proud to support an event that brings athletes from across the Caribbean together. Beyond the competition itself, the Games promote friendship, teamwork, healthy lifestyles and greater awareness of the importance of creating inclusive spaces for persons with disabilities,” Heaven added.

Lorna Bell, Special Olympics Caribbean executive director, pointed to the importance of incorporating health screening into the beach games.

“The healthy athletes programme has shown us, time and time again, that many of our athletes are living with undiagnosed and untreated health conditions, vision challenges, dental issues, hearing loss, and issues with their very feet, you name it,” she said.

“These are not small things. These are issues that directly affect performance, confidence, safety and their overall quality of life. On November 19, approximately 75 persons with intellectual disabilities from Llandilo School of Special Education in Westmoreland will be given the opportunity to access services provided by our clinicians here in Jamaica who are trained to work with persons with intellectual disabilities.

“Thanks to CHASE for seeing the importance of this programme, and we are also happy to have a team from Lions Club International in Canada, working closely with optometrist Dr Dawn Woo-Lawson to support the healthy athletes screening,” Bell noted.

The Special Olympics Beach Games is the second such regional event, following in the footsteps of the landmark 2024 staging in Trinidad and Tobago.

Harmony Beach Park, managed by the Government-run Urban Development Corporation, is in 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.

Even as the western belt of the country — including St James — continues to rediscover its footing following the devastation caused by deadly Hurricane Melissa last October, Heaven sees myriad opportunities.

“I think Jamaica has a wonderful opportunity to show the Caribbean what we do best — welcome people, create memorable experiences and bring people together. But most importantly, we have the opportunity to ensure that every athlete who comes to Montego Bay leaves knowing that Jamaica saw them, celebrated them and believed in their ability.

“For the people of Montego Bay and the wider St James community, I believe this… is an opportunity to see persons with intellectual disabilities in a different light — not defined by their disabilities, but celebrated for their talent, determination, courage and achievements,” the CHASE Fund CEO reasoned.

— Sanjay Myers