A Para-Athlete’s Journey – ‘Paralympic Day’

The Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, has issued a proclamation which will see Jamaica celebrating Paralympic Day each year on March 11. The Jamaica Paralympic Association is the first Caribbean or Central American sporting body to benefit from the proclamation of a calendar day by a head of State. We welcome Suzanne Harris-Henry, Secretary General, Jamaica Paralympic Association and Shauna-Kay Hines, Para-Taekwondo – Paralympian to share more.

Over the decades our Paralympians, with limited resources, have distinguished themselves and country at the Paralympic Games.  Among those who have made us proud is Alphanso Cunningham, who won a gold medal in javelin F52/53 class at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and at the 2013 IPC World Athletics Championships he also earned a gold medal in the F52/53 javelin throw where he broke his own world record three times.

The Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) was established in 2008 and is the successor of the Jamaica Paraplegic Association which was formed by the late Professor the Hon. Sir John Golding in 1966. The JPA is the national body for sports for persons who are physically challenged and visually impaired. The JPA has oversight responsibility for various competitive Para sport programmes notably wheelchair basketball, taekwondo, judo, track and field, table tennis, badminton, cricket, swimming and pistol shooting. Under the aegis of the JPA, athletes have participated in several international events including but not limited to, the Paralympic Games, the IPC World Athletics Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the Para Pan-American Games and the Central American & Caribbean Wheelchair Basketball Games.

Our athletes have a very enviable tradition at international championships garnering over the years several gold, silver and bronze medals and in  the process establishing world and regional records. The strains of the national anthem have been heard in many countries as our athletes have stood with pride and in glory on receiving gold medals for exceptional performances. The JPA considers its mandate not only to encourage excellence in competing and performing, but also to engender in our athletes and officials alike a spirit of fair play, justice and equity that promotes character and nation building.

Those who have gone before and excelled have taken their rightful places in civil society and have made sterling contributions to many endeavours and have by their accomplishments served to reform positively, societal perceptions of the disabled community. Success is not only quantitative but more importantly qualitative. Victory is not only winning but self-actualizing. Conquest is not only territorial but more importantly a landmark. These are values that embody the Paralympic movement.