ST JAMES, Jamaica — World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst arrived in Jamaica on Saturday for his inaugural official visit to the country.

Van der Vorst heads the organisation, which was established in 2023 and is provisionally recognised by the Olympic Committee, overseeing amateur boxing on an international level.

He was welcomed by the President of the Jamaica Boxing Association, Stephen “Bomber” Jones and Jamaica Olympic Association President, Christopher Samuda.

“This is part of our— foreign policy to ensure that international presidents come here, are acquainted with our infrastructure— and then we can have a dialogue that will be beneficial to the Olympic movement,” Samuda told Observer Online, indicating it was part of the association’s mandate to transform Jamaica into a “Mecca” of sport.

Van der Vorst praised “Bomber”, a founding member of world boxing, as one of his greatest friends.

“My expectation is that [together we will be] discussing the future of boxing here in the region and how we can develop boxing,” he said.

The president is in Jamaica on a four-day visit where he will be visiting several areas, starting on Sunday at a gym in Montego Bay, St James.