Para-athletes to benefit from Grass-Roots Project

PARA-ATHLETES IN Jamaica and the Caribbean stand to benefit from the Grass-Roots Project which was launched in Montego Bay at Sangster International Airport recently.

The Grass-Roots Project is an initiative dedicated to advancing inclusive sports and social change in Jamaica.

Central to the project is the creation of a dedicated sports facility for para-athletes that will empower local talent and position Jamaica as a leading destination for regional and international Para Games.

A key component of the launch was a comprehensive assessment of public and private sports infrastructure, hotels and accessible vehicles. The assessment was led by the Americas Paralympic Committee (AmPC) experts Karlha Andrade (paralympic sport expert) and Patricia Squella (architect specialist in universal accessibility), and the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) representatives Gavern Tate (architect), and Tamara Feanny Green (project manager).

Their collaboration will ensure that the Grass-Roots Project delivers world-class, accessible facilities and services for Jamaica’s para-athletes.

The launch of the Grass-Roots Project reflects the vision of Juan Pablo Salazar, director of inclusion of people with disabilities at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), which was shared at the Ibero-American and South American Sports Council summits in Montego Bay earlier this year.

SPORT’S ROLE

Salazar emphasised sport’s role in changing perceptions and breaking barriers, and advocated for inclusive sports policies to build equitable societies. He also highlighted CAF’s collaboration with UNESCO and the AmPC to strengthen national paralympic committees in Jamaica and the Caribbean by focusing on infrastructure, training, and accessible sports ecosystems.

Christopher Samuda, Jamaica’s Paralympic Association president, endorsed the project.

“We are making history for para-athletes in Jamaica and the Caribbean in ensuring integration and accessibility to the infrastructure of sport and society. History is being created as we move to break ground to build an academy of high performance not only for sport, but, importantly, for personal development and education,” he said.

“We are sowing seeds of a legacy so that abled athletes with a difference, which some label unfortunately as disabled, will reap the fruit of our labour and provide lessons of valour and triumph for those who desire, who dare to be and have the conviction to become standard-bearers,” Samuda added. “It is a grassroots project that will become a national movement.”

Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, emphasised Jamaica’s role in the Paralympic movement.

“Jamaica is poised to become a beacon of inclusion and excellence, not just for its own athletes, but for the entire region. This is the right hub, the right moment, and the right nation to lead this transformative era in sports,” Parsons said.

“By engaging 15 per cent of the population with disabilities in sports, Jamaica can unlock substantial economic and social advancements.”

Michele Formonté, executive director of AmPC, agreed with Parsons.

“Jamaica feels like home with its vibrant culture and welcoming people. We are creating a community here in the Americas,” Formonté said.

“The Jamaica Paralympic Association is aware of its potential and is growing as the leader of the Caribbean countries. We’re not just changing lives; we’re changing a country and empowering communities.”