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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, August 18, 2016 (CMC) – Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson completed the sprint double at the Rio Olympics, when she won the women’s 200 metres here, last night.
The 24-year-old clocked a season-best 21.78 seconds, to finish ahead of Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, who clocked 21.88 – also a season-best – to take silver.
American Tori Bowie finished third in 22.15 seconds.
Thompson became the first woman, since 1988, to win both the 100 and 200 metres at the same Olympic games.
Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, said she was “honoured to witness Elaine Thompson’s glory” after the Jamaican sprinter won the women’s 200 metres gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last evening.
“Elaine is such a wonderful champion who must be counted among the greats. She has done very well. And Jamaica is very proud and we’re happy to have been able to develop such world beaters at home. So while we celebrate our champion we also give credit to our local coaches, to our athletics system and to everybody who has played a role in the tremendous success of Jamaican athletes,” Minister Grange added.
After Thompson’s victory, Jamaica’s medal tally moved to four gold and two bronze medals.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, says he expects the tourism sector to benefit from the performance of Jamaican athletes at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
He said along with the promotion of Brand Jamaica through the establishment of ‘Jamaica House’ in the country, this will have a tangible impact.
Holness was addressing a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on August 17.
The Prime Minister returned, on Monday, from a trip to Rio de Janeiro, where he met with athletes and also hosted the official opening of Jamaica House, which the government is using, in partnership with private-sector entities, to market Brand Jamaica.
Jamaica PM, Andrew Holness, addresses the media on Monday. Photo credit: JIS.
The four major entities sponsoring Jamaica House are Appleton, Red Stripe, Digicel and Sandals.
“What I witnessed were travel agents coming in, asking questions about Jamaica, about our packages and our food. I (also) met many executives who were all asking about opportunities in Jamaica. Representatives from the Jamaica Tourist Board and other government agencies were there. So, I am certain that connections were made,” he said.
Holness explained that Jamaica House is meant to create a Jamaican atmosphere for athletes off the track, but also a space where people from other countries can interact with Jamaican brands.
He noted that Brazil has a strong middle class that travel frequently, adding that they might be influenced to travel to Jamaica by both the performance of Jamaican athletes at the Olympics as well as by the strong presence created by the Jamaica House initiative.
