Jamaica
has established and maintained a remarkable sporting record over the
past half-century. Since 1948 Jamaicans have won many Olympic gold,
silver and bronze medals. Jamaica's track and field athletes are acknowledged
to be among the best in the world. In addition, Jamaica has held several
world records, and produced world famous cricketers, boxers, footballers,
cyclists, weight lifters, wrestlers and netballers.
The Origins of Netball
 The game of netball evolved from basketball, which was invented by Dr. James Naismith a Canadian Physical Education Teacher, who wanted an indoor sport to keep his pupils physically occupied during the winter months.
Dr. Toles introduced netball to England in 1895 from the USA at Madam Ostenberg's College. It was brought here to Jamaica by English women who came to Jamaica to teach in our girls' secondary schools such as Wolmer’s Girls School. This game has been a part of the physical education programme at Wolmer's Girls School, which is located on Marascaux Road in Kingston, since 1909.
In the early years following 1909 the game was played mainly in schools and teachers' training colleges, but after a while, the alumnae of these institutions started teams, and began to play friendly matches among themselves. In the 1930's seven teams in the Corporate Area played for an ISSA Cup. They were:
- Wolmer's Old Girls Association (W.O.G.A.)
- St. Andrew
- St. Hugh's
- Excelsior
- Shortwood
- Lincoln
W.O.G.A. built a hard court at Cavaliers, the first hard court for netball in Jamaica.
The Jamaica Netball Association became affiliated to the West Indies Netball Board in 1959, and was invited to send a team to the West Indies Tournament in Montserrat in August 1959. First Jamaican Netball Team – 1959.
- Grace Beckford-Benjamin
- Marie Beckford-Miller
- Monica Brown-Mendes
- Barbara Buckley-Jones, Ph. D.
- Hermione Edmonds-Whittaker
- Valerie Fleming-Webster
- Ouida Golding-Beecher, M.B., B. Sc.
- Joy Grant-Charles
- Fay Mills
- Dorothea Morris
The Jamaica Netball Association was formed in 1959 by Pancho Rankine, Margaret Beckford and Margarietta St. Juste. The game began to be played at the club level since then. The game grew in popularity and its spectators looked forward to being entertained by competitions at the school, church, community, business, club, parish, and national levels.
For further information, visit the Jamaica Netball Association website.
Bobsledding
 In 1998,
Jamaica participated in the Calgary Winter Olympics in the bobsled
event, finishing 29th overall in their first Winter Olympics Games.
The team also participated in the 1992 Winte Olympics in albertville
and finsihed 34th. In 1994, at Lilehammer, the team had its best finish,
placing 14th in the four-man event, ahead of Japan which finished
15th. The performance of the Jamaican Bobsled Team - a phenomenon
made more remarkable by the fact that Jamaica is a tropical island
which has never seen snow - achieved additional fame through the Walt
Disney movie "Cool Runnings".
Track & Field
 In the 1996 Olympic Games,
Jamaica won six medals - one gold, three silver and two bronze. In
the 400 metres hurdle Deon Hemmings won Jamaica's first Olympic gold
medal in a female event and James Beckford won Jamaica's firt long
jump medal.
One of our greatest sports personalities and olympians is Merlene
Ottey, OD, who received the appoint of Ambassador at Large by the
Government in 1993.
Ottey was the first female Jamaican Athlete to have won an olympic
medal, and the first female in the English Speaking Caribbean to have
won two olympic medals. Merlene has made and broken many track and
field records and has won many awards.
Jamaica also performed well in the 1997 Junior Carifta Games, accumulating
61 medals - 28 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze. The 1998 Carfita Track
and Field Games, were held in the Hasley Crawford Stadium, Trinidad
and Tobago between April 11 and 13. Jamaica dominated the games and
placed first with 31 gold, 21 silver and 17 bronze medals.
Jamaica has also exhibited outstanding performances in football and
netball. Jamaica currently holds the number 5 world ranking in netball.
In addition to traditional sports such as horse racing, auto racing,
seasonal bird shooting and regattas, there are several `new' sports.
These include ballooning and go-kart racing. Deep seas fishing tournaments
are held periodically throughout the year an attract international
participation.
Cricket
 Cricket
is one of the most popular sports played in Jamaica. It was passed
down from the English colonial masters, and today serves as a unifying
force among Jamaicans.
Many Jamaicans have excelled regionally and internationally in cricket
including George Headley, Alfred Valentine, Jackie Hendricks, Collie
Smith, Michael Holding, Jeffry Dujon and Courtney Walsh.
Courtney Walsh, former Jamaica, West Indies and Gloucesteshire captain
is presently the leading wicket taker in West Indies Cricket history.
At the end of the 1999 Cable & Wireless series, his tally stood
at 434 test wickets. He is also the third highest wicket taker of
all time.
Football
 Jamaica's
national football team (known as the Reggae Boys), created history
when they qualified for World Cup 1998. The were the first team
from an English Speaking Caribbean nationa to do so. At the World
Cup, Jamaica faced Croatia, Argentina and Japan. They lost to Croatia
and Argentina, but were 2-1 winners over Japan.
The Government through the Institute of Sports (INSPORT) - the organisation
responsible for the development of sports locally - and the Social
Development Commission (SDC), has broadened the base of participation
in other sporting activities. These include volleyball, basketball
and softball, in addition to football and netball.
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