MONTEGO BAY — The Jamaica Bobsleigh Team is heading back to the Olympics, once again with the full support of Sandals Resorts International.
The six-man team will be competing this month at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Among the Games’ highlights will be the return of Jamaica’s 4-man bobsleigh team, which last competed at the Winter Olympics 24 years ago in Nagano, Japan.
As it did for 1998’s qualifying team, Sandals is once again sponsoring the 2022 bobsleigh team.
“Sandals has always been a champion for our national athletes as we continue our legacy to support young competitors who aspire to represent our beloved home country locally and on the world stage,” said Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart. “We beam with pride seeing our beautiful flag waving high, showing the world that Jamaica is not only a nation of dreamers, but doers – and that truly anything is possible when heart and hard work come together.
“The story of Jamaican bobsleighing is simply incredible and we are along for the long ride, cheering on this extraordinary team as they compete in this winter’s events and then pass down the torch for generations to come.”
Sandals Resorts has long supported athletes-in-training in Jamaica and across the Caribbean through the work of the Sandals Foundation. By sponsoring the 2022 Bobsleigh team, Sandals will cover the logistics and travel costs required to send qualifying athletes to Beijing, as well as the additional bobsleigh events leading up to the 2023 world championship event.
The 2022 team is led by team manager Nelson Christian ‘Chris’ Stokes. Stokes has been an active member of the team since its inception in 1988, and was part of the Olympic team that inspired the popular 1993 film ‘Cool Runnings.’ For Stokes, who also serves as President and Chairman of the Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation, Sandals’ sponsorship is a full circle moment, having started out as a Sandals Resorts team member at Sandal Montego Bay in the mid 1980s.
“Our return to the world stage is an incredible win in itself and now Sandals Resorts has carried us over the finish line, allowing our team to put their focus on what they do best: bringing the Caribbean heat,” said Stokes.
Upon their return to Jamaica, Stokes and the team will join forces with the Sandals Foundation to plan a number of long-term initiatives geared towards grooming the next generation of athletes. These will include visits to local schools to host motivational speaking engagements, organizing athletic training clinics, nutrition workshops with resort chefs and more. Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts guests can also look forward to meet and greets with Bobsleigh team members.
This year’s Bobsleigh team includes pilot Shanwayne Stephens, push athletes Matthew Wepke and Rolando Reid, and brakemen Ashley Watson and Nimroy Turgott. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian is also representing Team Jamaica this year in a new women’s monobob event.
