Athletes to be honoured at reggae festival

Jamaican sprinters Veronica Campbell Brown (left) and Usain Bolt will have booths named after them. - File

NEW YORK CITY (CMC)

Organisers of a major reggae festival in New York will honour Caribbean athletes during the Labour Day weekend.

Labour Day is celebrated in the United States on the first Monday in September.

Louie Grant, the Jamaican-born vice president of the New York-based Irie Jam Media, co-producers of the Irie Jamboree Concert, considered the leading reggae festival in North America, said the theme for the 2008 event is 'Celebrating Caribbean Athletes Representing the Region at Beijing '08'.

"This year, we are sending our strongest track and field contingent ever to the games, and I am expecting a good haul of medals from this quality field of athletes," he said.

"Great Caribbean Olympians - such as Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, Donald Quarrie, Haseley Crawford, Dennis Johnson, Lennox Miller, Merlene Ottey, Bertland Cameron, Ana Quiro, Javier Sotomayor, Anier Garcia, Debbie Ferguson, Ato Boldon, Alberto Juanterino, Deon Hemmings and so many others - have advanced our formidable athletics tradition on the international stage.

"Their legacy ought to be recognised by us, reggae kindred here in the United States, particularly during the Labour Day weekend celebrations."

Grant said the decision to honour the Caribbean athletes at Irie Jamboree 2008, came on the heels of Usain Bolt's 100 metres world-record run of 9.72 seconds at a Grand Prix meet here on May 31.

"This year, our flagship summer event, Irie Jamboree, is themed to celebrate our incredible athletes and to give further credence to our articulated commitment of ensuring that the Caribbean does not miss out on the opportunities created by what is its birthright," Grant added.

He pointed out that the VIP and media tents will be named the 'Usain 'Lighting' Bolt VIP Tent' and the 'Veronica Campbell-Brown Media Booth'.

In addition, Grant said the Arts and Craft section at the festival will be named the Caribbean Olympic Village in honour of all Caribbean athletes, who will take part at this year's summer Olympics.

He said top Jamaican reggae stars, such as Tarrus Riley, Coco Tea, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Serani, Bugle, DeMarco and Hero, among others, will headline the reggae acts slated to perform.