Experience the Culture of Jamaica Through Sports
December 29th, 2011 by Henry, under Jamaican Vacations. No Comments
Experience the Culture of Jamaica Through Sports
Article by Maureen Wright-Evans
Sport is the fire that lights the Jamaican people and has always been important in their lives. To some it helps to make the hardships of life more bearable, and many poor athletes dream of climbing the economic ladder of life through the sport of his choice.
Can you picture going to a sports event that is like a carnival? If you can then this is what attending a football (soccer), cricket, or track and field event is like. These are the top sports played in Jamaica, but you can find many others. If you are a lover of sports and want to understand how Jamaicans take a sport and make it into a party, consider visiting the island during the season of your favourite sport.
Football (Soccer)
Football is arguably the top sport in Jamaica, and because of the easy access to a playing field, players everywhere can be seen enjoying this sport. This game was introduced to Jamaica in the eighteenth century by the British troops who were sent to the colony to keep peace. Regiments would play against each other, and soon the game spread all over the island.
Today football is played at every level in the island. If you are interested in school-boy football, the time to be in Jamaica is from September to November. During this season, the Manning and Dacosta Cup competitions are played. Here you’ll find the top players in schools, accompanied by the passion of the spectators, who cheer as if their very life depended on winning.
At the highest level are matches organized by Jamaica Football Federation and played by the premier team, the Reggae Boyz. In 1998, pandemonium broke out in every corner of Jamaica when the Reggae Boyz qualified for the first time in the finals of the Football World Cup. Since then, huge followers have developed around football, and the carnival-like atmosphere at the games make them feel more like a great party than just a game.
Cricket
Cricket was first played in Jamaica by only the rich and elite. Today Jamaicans of every background enjoy this game, which is also popular all over the West Indies. Jamaicans are passionate about cricket and at venues around the island, you can hear Reggae music and see people drinking the popular Red Stripe Beer.
During cricket season, Jamaicans are infected with cricket. Small groups can be seen hovering around radios in shops, in bars, and on the street corners. The causal observer can often hear groaning and moaning when a team has lost. Sometimes this is interspersed with shouts of glee and dancing when a player scores. Even if you do not understand the game of cricket, it is an exciting and thrilling experience just watching the carnival-like atmosphere.
Track and Field
The question has been asked over and over: “Why do Jamaicans run so fast?” Some say it’s the yams we eat, others say it is the mountainous terrain of the island, and many say it is the competitive spirit of the people. No one is sure of the answer, but one thing is certain: if there is a track and field event anywhere in the world, a Jamaican is sure to be among the medal winners.
Jamaica’s finest hour in track and field was at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. With a population of only 2.8 million, this island was celebrating its new status as the fastest nation in the world. Pandemonium first broke when Usain Bolt broke the world record and became the fastest man alive. The next day, Shelley-Ann Fraser led a trio of Jamaicans for a clean sweep in the 100-meter women’s finals. It was the first time in the history of the Olympics that one country had ever swept the women’s 100-meter race.
If you love track and field and want to see the best events, the time to visit is from February through June. In March, you can see the Boys and Girls Championship, held at the National Stadium in Kingston. With the top schools around the island competing, chanting and beating drums combined with nail-biting races, you can experience track and field like no other in the world.
Other Sports
There are many other sports played in Jamaica, and although they’re not as popular as football, cricket, and track and field, they still have a huge following. Some of these are basketball, tennis, golf, horse racing, and swimming. Attending any of these events will be a different experience too. Everywhere you go, there will be the sound of reggae music playing. Be prepared to see “jerk” stalls scattered all over the grounds with spectators busy sampling or nibbling at a piece of the popular jerked chicken. For players and fans, it is not just a game of sport, but a great big party.
If you have never considered visiting Jamaica as a sports player or spectator, then it’s something to plan around your next trip. There are many opportunities available to enjoy your sport and see how Jamaicans make it different.
About the Author
Maureen Wright-Evans is the CEO of Jamaica Adventure Secrets – a company that specializes in packages designed for the Ultimate Authentic Jamaica Experience. Find out how YOU can have the adventure of your life or experience a volunteer vacation: http://www.jamaicaadventuresecrets.com
The Top Sports Vacation Destinations of the World
June 23rd, 2011 by Henry, under Vacation Destinations. No Comments
The Top Sports Vacation Destinations of the World
Sports are an important part of our lives. Without sports life would seem dim and dull. Each and every person is interested in some kind of sports or the other. Some people are actively involved in sports while others love to watch them and talk about them.
You might be aware of the fact the international matches of different sports are hosted by different countries or different states. There are certain popular destinations of sports. Before each and every match the organizers need to decide about the place where the match will be held.
Sports tourism has become one of the most important industries these days. There are various things that the organizers need to take into account before choosing the place. When you plan a vacation you usually do so with some intentions in your mind.
There are people who plan a travel to adventurous places so that they can involve themselves into some risks and enjoy the adventure. On the other hand there are people who love to go for a romantic holiday with their beloved.
If you are interested to build up tourism and travel business then you need to make sure that you take proper care of certain essential things. You can choose to promote sports vacation to people who are interested in this field.
There is a wide range of sports vacation destination from which people can choose. If you are interested in this field then you will surely like to arrange the sports vacations for players present worldwide. But to give a proper start to your business you need proper promotion and marketing strategies.
There are certain companies which offer different kinds of marketing facilities to the interested tourism and travel companies. People who choose to go for the sports vacation usually have sports in their mind but there are other advantages of this kind of tour.
First of all you can have a cultural exchange because people from various countries take up this kind of a tour. Personal development is also another advantage of this kind of a tour. The organizers usually lay stress on these advantages. If you start this business then you should always look for a capable marketing company.
This kind of a tourism business needs to have proper link with the ministry. A good coordination is required between the ministry, the countries as well as the players. You just need to create your page where you can provide the information regarding the travel and tourism through your company.
Venue coordination is one of the most important tasks that you need to do. Other than fixing the venue, you need to contact the ministry, register the players as well as their family. You also need to arrange from proper communication facilities.
The marketing companies will help you perform these tasks in the best possible way. They will also help you create the online as well as the offline system for your business. So start your business now with top marketing strategies.
Take the maximum benefit of sport vacation marketing with sport-vacation-destinations.com