TIME Magazine ranks Jamaica's Olympic uniforms among the best

TIME Magazine has ranked the Jamaica Olympic uniforms designed by Cedella Marley among the best in the world.

The Jamaican uniforms are listed with France, South Korea, New Zealand, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“We love these uniforms, mostly because the designers didn’t seem to be trying too hard,” the writer said of the Jamaican designs. “The vivid colours and geometric colours are so fun! Just like the Olympics!”

The worst rated were the USA, Australia, Russia, China, Spain and Hong Kong.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/TIME-Magazine-ranks-Jamaican-Olympic-uniforms-among-the-best#ixzz20tkpE7vG

Olympic birthday celebrations for four Jamaican athletes

Four of Jamaica’s female athletes will celebrate birthdays on the world stage in London during this year’s staging of the Olympic Games.

Nickiesha Wilson, Sherone Simpson, Schillonie Calvert and Rosemarie Whyte will see their milestones and hopefully gain Olympic medals as birthday gifts.

Wilson competes in the 100m and 400m hurdles with a personal best of 12.79 seconds at the 100m, which she achieved in Szczecin, Poland in 2009. She was born in 1986 and her birthday will be on July 28, one day after the official opening of the 30th Olympiad.

Nickiesha Wilson

Simpson, who was born in Manchester on August 12, 1984, holds a gold medal from the 2004 Athens Olympics where she ran on the 4x100m relay team; she also has a silver medal in the 100m in the 2008 Olympics when she tied with fellow Jamaican Keron Stewart for second place in a dramatic photo finish. Simpson has a 200m personal best of 22.00 seconds.

Sherone Simpson

Calvert, born July 27, 1988 in St James competes in both the 100m and 200m. She ran creditable times of 22.68 in the 200m in Madrid earlier this year and 11.66 in the 100m in New York.

Schillonie Calvert

Rosemarie Whyte the national 400m champion was born August 9, 1986 in Trelawny. She represented Jamaica at the 2008 Olympics in Bejing, where she earned a bronze medal in the 4X400m relay.

Rosemarie Whyte

Court backs watchdog on mobile rate cut

LIME shouted victory yesterday as the Supreme Court cleared the way for a rate cut on all calls to mobile phones.

The telecoms operator slashed rates by as much as two thirds a month ahead of the rate change ordered by the regulator, to be implemented Sunday.

The company is betting that an increased subscriber base and higher call times will lead to higher revenues in the long run.

But even before LIME lowered its rates, Digicel had challenged the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) claiming that the regulatory body had breached the principle of natural justice.

The dominant mobile phone company said the regulator did not consult with industry players before setting the price that mobile operators charge each other for receiving, or terminating, calls at $5 per minute.

But Justice Ingrid Mangatal yesterday ruled against Digicel's application for Judicial Review of the OUR's decision.

"Actions speak loudly," said Garry Sinclair, managing director of LIME Jamaica & Cayman. "We responded to the OUR's lowering of termination rates by immediately dropping our mobile prices to the lowest in Jamaican history and our people reacted very positively. Digicel responded by taking the OUR... to court."

Following its loss yesterday, Digicel stressed that its issue was not with the rate but the way in which the OUR went about the cut.

"We are disappointed with today's ruling as we maintain that the OUR ought to have adhered to the principles of natural justice and carried out some form of prior consultation on the issue before issuing its determination," said Richard Fraser, Digicel Jamaica's head of legal and regulatory affairs.

The new wholesale rate (not the final retail price to consumers) of $5 per minute for all calls made to mobile phones was set as an interim measure ahead of a cost model consultation being completed in September.

During submissions in chambers before Justice Ingrid Mangatal last month, Digicel also asked for a stay on the implementation of the rate in the event that it was successful in seeking leave for Judicial Review. That too was rejected.

"Digicel has not made out a case that it will suffer actual, likely or irreparable harm or loss," Mangatal said in her 55-page written judgment. "On the other hand, it does appear to me that Lime will likely suffer financial damage and reputational loss if a stay is granted, particularly as they have indicated that they have already relied upon the interim Determination Notice."

The OUR has the power to act to protect the public interest, she said. "Even in the event that I am wrong about Digicel's failure to prove harm or potential for irremediable harm, it is plain in any event that the injustice and potential for injustice to the public and to Digicel would be completely different in kind and entirely disproportionate.

"When weighed against each other, the scales would be tipped heavily in favour of the public interest in refusing the stay."

Fraser said: "Unfortunately, the Court did not agree with our view of the law," said Fraser. "We still harbour concerns regarding the unfettered powers granted to the regulator and intend to review matters with respect to same."

But the issue is not yet resolved, as the parties are expected back before Mangatal this morning when Digicel will apply for leave to appeal against the loss.

LIME is expected to make an application for Digicel to pay its legal costs in relation to the hearing.

LIME said yesterday that the next "important step towards a truly levelled playing field" is the implementation of number portability, which would allow mobile users to keep their current phone numbers when they move to other service providers.

The company said it would continue the fight to make this a reality.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Court-backs-watchdog-on-mobile-rate-cut_11943009#ixzz20VuGDSyY

Odean Skeen cops bronze

Ja earn first medal at World Junior Champs

BARCELONA, Spain — Odean Skeen won Jamaica’s first medal of the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium here in Barcelona, Spain, last night when he copped the bronze in the men’s 100m in 10.28 seconds.

The Youth Olympic champion, who made the final as one of the fastest losers after placing third in his semifinal heat in 10.43 seconds, got off to a brilliant start and led up to 60 metres before pre-championships favourite Adam Gemili of Great Britain, who won in a new Championships record, personal best and Great Britain Junior Record 10.05 seconds and American Aaron Ernest in a personal best 10.17 seconds overhauled him.

Jamaica's Odean Skeen (second right) takes the bronze medal in the men's 100m final last night at the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain. At left is Great Britain's Adam Gemili, who won in 10.05 seconds, a new Championships Record, personal best and UK Junior record. (Photo: Paul Reid)

Jamaica ended the second day 15th in the medals table.

The bronze snapped Jamaica’s string of gold at two, but extended the run to five consecutive WJC where they have won a medal in the men’s 100m.

Remaldo Rose took bronze in Italy in 2004 followed by Yohan Blake two years later in Beijing, China, while Dexter Lee won gold in Poland in 2008 and Canada in 2010.

The other Jamaican Jazeel Murphy, who had run a personal best 10.25 seconds in the semi-finals where he was second, was fifth in 10.29 seconds, the same time as fourth-placed Tyreek Hill.

Interestingly, Murphy and Hill were given the same time in the semi-finals earlier.

After another hot morning, the temperature dipped appreciably in the afternoon session, but that did not cool down the atmosphere in what was the largest crowd so far.

After his lacklustre semis, Skeen told reporters that coach Christopher Harley gave him a “pep talk” to get him focused and he responded by “clearing my mind of everything”.

He described winning the medal as “a great feeling” as he had executed his “game plan”.

In a post-race press conference, Gemili, who says his favourite sprinter is Usain Bolt, said the plan at the start of the season was to make the final here, but that changed after he ran 10.08 seconds earlier, making him the fastest Briton so far this season.

Gemili is the fourth United Kingdom sprinter to win the men’s 100m at the World Juniors after Harry Aikens-Aryeetes, Christian Malcolm and Mark Lewis-Francis.

Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas won the women’s final in a World Junior leading 11.20 seconds ahead of Turkey’s Nimet Karakus.

Six other athletes led by IAAF World Youth Championships long jump gold medallist Chanice Porter will make their first appearance on today’s third day.

Porter, who is ranked sixth in the world with her personal best 6.52m set at ISSA Girls Champs, will take part in the preliminaries this morning, while Janieve Russell will be the only Jamaican entrant in the women’s 400m hurdles event

There will be a lot of anticipation for the 200m first rounds for both men and women. Julian Forte, who comes into the championships with the second best time in the world with 20.38 seconds, and Tyquendo Tracey will seek to advance to this afternoon’s semi-finals in the 200m.

Munro College’s Delano Williams will also represent the Turks and Caicos Islands as well.

World Youths bronze medallist Shericka Jackson and Jodean Williams will compete in the women’s section.

Jamaica will have a representative in the men’s 400m final for the first time since 2006 in Beijing, China, when Edino Steele and Allodin Fothergill made it to the medal round following a heroic run from Javon Francis in yesterday’s semis.

The Calabar high school runner lowered his personal best for the second straight day to an impressive 46.06 seconds, finishing second to American Aldrich Bailey (45.79 seconds) after running 46.31 seconds in Tuesday’s first round after coming into the championships with a personal best of 47.16 seconds.

He was fourth entering the home straight but seem to find a new gear to power past Kenya’s Boniface Ontuga Mweresa (46.20 seconds) and Poland’s Patryk Dobek (46.56 seconds).

Female quarter-milers Olivia James and Chrisann Gordon, as well as men’s 400m hurdlers Javarn Gallimore and Shavon Barnes all qualified for their semi-finals easily.

James ran a season best 52.86 seconds for an automatic spot in this afternoon’s semi-finals where she runs out of lane nine in the third heat.

Gordon cruised to an easy looking 52.99 seconds to win her heat in commanding fashion before telling reporters she was in good condition and just taking it one step at a time as the meet progresses.

Both Gallimore and Shavarn Barnes placed second in their first-round heats of the 400m hurdles and also automatically advanced to the semi-finals to be run tomorrow morning.

Gallimore, who won at Champs, was clocked in 51.40 seconds, while Barnes ran 51.52 seconds.

There were disappointments for several other athletes, however, as they failed to medal or to advance.

After throwing 19.71m in the morning’s preliminaries to advance to his first World Junior Championships finals in his second attempt, shot putter Ashinia Miller could only muster 18.70m in the afternoon’s final finishing 11th overall.

Earlier in the day, Emmanuel Onyia, who will be attending the University of Minnesota next year on a track scholarship, failed to get a legal mark in the shot put prelims.

Sprint hurdler Stephan Fennell suffered a disaster when his running spikes ripped open on the ninth hurdle and he crashed to the track, gashing his left palm in the semis of the men’s 110m hurdles.

Fennell looked well placed to take a place in the final after he also failed to make it to the final in Canada two years ago.

Yannick Hart was sixth in his semi-finals heat in 13.76 seconds and failed to advance.

Sixteen-year-old Christoff Bryan could only clear 2.10m and failed to get past the first round of the men’s high jump.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Skeen-cops-bronze---Ja-earn-first-medal-at-World-Junior-Champs#ixzz20ROqwL9i

Jamaican Athletes named for London Olympics

Athletes named for London Olympics - Sports - Latest News - Jamaica Gleaner

The Jamaica Olympic Association has released the list of athletes who will compete at the 3oth Olympiad in London from July 27 to August 12.

See full list below:

ATHLETICS: (Women)

FRASER-PRYCE Shelley-Ann 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay
CAMPBELL-BROWN Veronica 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay
STEWART, Kerron 100m, 4x100m Relay
SIMPSON Sherone 200m, 4x100m Relay
CALVERT, Schillonie 4x100m Relay
HENRY-ROBINSON Samantha 4x100m Relay

WILLIAMS-MILLS Novlene 400m, 4x400m Relay
WHYTE, Rosemarie 400m, 4x400m Relay
DAY, Christine 400m, 4x400m Relay
WILLIAMS, Shericka 4x400m Relay
LLOYD Shereefa 4x400m Relay
BLAKE, Dominique 4x400m Relay

SINCLAIR Kenia 800m

FOSTER-HYLTON Brigitte 100m Hurdles
GREAVES Latoya 100m Hurdles
WILLIAMS, Shermaine 100m Hurdles

WALKER Melaine 400m Hurdles
SPENCER, Kaliese 400m Hurdles
WILSON Nickiesha 400m Hurdles

WILLIAMS, Kimberly Triple Jump
SMITH, Trecia Triple Jump

RANDALL, Allison Discus

HINDS, Korine 3,000m Steeplechase


ATHLETICS: (Men)

BLAKE, Yohan 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay
BOLT, Usain 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay
POWELL, Asafa 100m, 4x100m Relay
FRATER, Michael 4x100m Relay
BAILEY-COLE Kemar 4x100m Relay
CARTER Nesta 4x100m Relay
WEIR Warren 200m
HYATT, Dane 400m, 4x400m Relay
McDONALD, Rusheen 400m, 4x400m Relay
GONZALES, Jermaine 400m, 4x400m Relay
NOLAN, Errol 4x400m Relay
STEELE, Edino 4x400m Relay
HYLTON, Riker 4x400m Relay

PARCHMENT, Hansle 110m Hurdles
RILEY, Andrew 110m Hurdles
PHILLIPS, Richard 110m Hurdles
GREEN, Leford 400m Hurdles
ROBERTSON, Josef 400m Hurdles
CATO, Roxroy 400m Hurdles

FORBES Damion Long Jump
SCOTT, Dorian Shot Putt
SMIKLE, Traves Discus
MORGAN, Jason Discus
SMITH Maurice Decathlon

EQUESTRIAN:

ALBERT, Samantha Eventing

SWIMMING:

ATKINSON Alia 100m Breast Stroke

TAEKWONDO:

EDWARDS, Kenneth 84 kg


DELEGATION OFFICIALS:

ANDERSON, Donald Chef de Mission
RODNEY, Compton Deputy Chef de Mission
HAMILTON, Merlene Female Manager
WATTS, Ludlow Athletics Team Manager
QUARRIE, Donald Athletics Technical Manager
CAMERON Bertland Athletics Coach
WILSON Maurice Athletics Coach
WESTNEY, Maurice Athletics Coach
COLEMAN, Fitzalbert Athletics Coach
BLAKE, Dr. Warren Chief Medical Officer
SINGH, Dr. Priamanand Medical officer
DAWES Dr. Winston Medical Officer
DEPASS Michelle Physiotherapist
JULIUS Dr. Karen Physiotherapist
EDWARDS, Everald Masseuer
JAMES, Gavin Masseuer
TURNER, Colin Masseuer
WATSON, Patrick Masseuer
PASMORE Anthony Equestrian Team Manager
BERNARD, Gladstone Taekwondo Team manager
LYN, Martin Swimming Team Manager
ANDERSON Christopher Swimming Coach

Facts about the National Anthem of Jamaica

On Thursday July 19, 1962, the Houses of Parliament approved the words and musical composition of the National Anthem, which was the creative work of four persons: The late Rev. Hugh Sherlock OJ, OBE
The late Hon. Robert Lightbourne, OJ, The late Mapletoft Poulle, Mrs. Raymond Poulle

The late Rev. Hugh Sherlock, OJ, OBE

The late Hon. Robert Lightbourne, OJ

The late Mapletoft Poulle

On August 6, 1962, following the lowering of the British Union Jack and the raising of Jamaica’s new flag in colours of black, green and gold, the National Anthem was sung, heralding Jamaica as an independent nation, now with its own constitution, emblems and symbols.



Guidelines for Use of the National Anthem
The following guidelines for the National Anthem are to be observed:
Persons should stand at attention, that is, heels together and hands outstretched at each side; not across the chest or at the back.
Men should remove their hats.
The first verse of the National Anthem should be played or sung as specifically designated on the arrival of the Governor-General or the Prime Minister.
The Anthem should be played or sung at Independence celebrations as well as public gatherings.
The singing of the National Anthem should form part of the flag raising and lowering ceremonies at the beginning and end of the school term.


The National Anthem
Eternal Father bless our land,
Guard us with Thy Mighty Hand
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours.
To our leaders Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.


Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty’s call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish.
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.

Shelly-Ann, Blake complete sprint double on sizzling night

YOHAN 'The Beast' Blake and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce completed brilliant sprint doubles last night winning their respective 200m races as the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Champion-ships came to a thrilling end at the National Stadium.
The final day of the four-day meet lived up to expectations as the athletes seeking places to the London Olympics delivered to the appreciative audience that showed up expecting keen battles.
There was a buzz of anticipation from early in the day as the meet started under a brilliant blue sky dotted with puffy clouds.

Blake, who had run 9.75 seconds Friday to win the 100m, held off Bolt for the second time in the weekend to win in 19.80 seconds as Bolt chugged home in 19.83 while Warren Weir completed a Racers TC sweep taking third place in 20.03 seconds.
Afterwards Blake said he was not surprised as he had "worked hard" but said he had no idea if coach Glen Mills would enter him for the double in London.

Fraser-Pryce was not sure if she would double either after she ran her second personal best of the weekend, 22.10 seconds as her MVP teammate Sherone Simpson powered home to second place (22.37), her best time in years as two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell Brown was third in 22.42 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce came off the curve with Campbell Brown but found another gear to separate her from the field for an easy win.

Meanwhile, Dane Hyatt will be making his first trip ever to London after winning the men's 400m, running 44.83 seconds to beat 19-year-old former Garvey Maceo student Rushane McDonald, who ran an 45.10 seconds, his third personal best this weekend, while National Record holder Jermaine Gonzales, who is battling injuries, got the other place running 45.18 seconds, his season's best.
Novlene Williams-Mills justified her favourites tag by taking the women's event in 50.60 seconds with her usual late kick to take her clear of champion Rosemarie Whyte who took second place in 50.78 seconds, while Berlin World Championships representative Christine Day took third in 51.00 seconds after running her personal best 50.85 seconds in the previous round on Saturday.
Berlin World Championships gold medallist, the ever green Brigitte Foster Hylton won the 100m hurdles in 12.68 seconds, comfortably ahead of Latoya Greaves (12.77 seconds), while 2008 World Junior Championships silver medallist Shermaine Williams snatched the third spot with a new personal best 12.78 seconds.

Dorian Scott is on his way to his second Olympic Games after getting the A qualifying standard in the shot put by winning with 20.72m, surpassing the 20.50m in only his third competition of
the season.
Scott, who took up a coaching job this year at the University of San Diego, told the Jamaica Observer he was injury-free and looking forward to the Olympics.
O'Dayne Richards, who has the B standard, was second in 19.92m, while Raymond Brown was third in 19.41m.

Kimberly Williams, who had achieved the A qualifying standard in May, equalled her personal best of 14.52m to win the triple jump; Trecia Kaye Smith was second in 13.94m and Shanieka Tomas third in 13.64m Saniel Atkinson-Grier, who celebrates her 21st birthday today, won the high jump on her first time competing in Jamaica, clearing 1.89m as National Record holder Sheree Francis-Ruff slipped on her first attempt at 1.92m and was taken off the track on a stretcher after twisting her left ankle.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Shelly-Ann--Blake-complete-sprint-double-on-sizzling-night_11868238#ixzz1zTedfTc4

World 100m champion Yohan Blake puts his finger to his lips following his victory in the Men’s 200m final at JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships at the National Stadium last night.

World Championship gold medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton (right) is over the hurdles ahead of the field to win the Women’s 100 metres hurdles final at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships at the National Stadium last night. Also pictured are Shermaine Williams (left) and Latoya Greaves.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the ‘Pocket Rocket’ (right), wins the women’s 200m final at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures Limited at the National Stadium last night to take the sprint. Sherone Simpson (left) finishes second ahead of Olympic champion Veronica Campbell Brown (2nd left). Also pictured is Anniesha McLaughlin