Sports have been an important part of Jamaica's history ever since the
island's native people, the Ta�nos, played games with a ball. But Ta�no athletics have since been
replaced by the sporting customs of the island's British colonizers, and games such as cricket and
football (soccer) dominate today. Still, there are plenty of other games to play and to root for on
this beautiful island.
Cricket
Cricket, long revered in England as a gentleman's sport, was first played in Jamaica by the
upper classes. Unlike football, a game for the masses, cricket was reserved for the elite and had a
reputation as being a game that exemplified English poise. Over time Jamaicans of all social
backgrounds became involved in the game, and today cricket is thriving in the West Indies.
The Rules
The rules are both social and technical. The game is played with a bat and ball, though both are
different than those used in baseball. Only three men in the field have gloves. A test match is
played over five days – each with roughly seven hours of play time.
Social rules are equally as strict. Teams are divided between "gentlemen" and "players," and
each even has their own locker room. Gentlemen were, until recently, the only men who could captain
a team. Players were paid to play on a team.
In the West Indies, teams were divided by color. But in 1948, Jamaican George Headley became the
first black man to captain a test side. Headley is regarded as one of the top batsmen in the
game.
Teams
Although cricket is popular in Jamaica, there is only one team to represent all of the West
Indies in international competition. The first team played in 1928 against England. And in 1935,
the team, known as The Windies, won its first test series – a group of five five-day-long matches
over a period of two to three months.
The biggest change came from a series victory in 1950, when West Indian teams began traveling
the world. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the West Indies team began taking the lead in the world
game, and in 1960 sent abroad its first team captained by a black man, Frank Worrell of
Barbados.
Football (Soccer)
The game of football was introduced by British troops who were sent to keep the peace in the
colony in the mid-to-late-1800s. Matches between regiments became important social events, which
helped spread the game's popularity to all corners of the island.
As time passed, the game became ingrained in the culture – even high schools competed among each
other in the early 1900s. Today, most schools have football teams. By the 1920s, Jamaica was ready
to enter the international stage and played against neighboring teams on Haiti, Cuba, and the
Dominican Republic.
After World War II, the region began organizing, and Jamaica was eventually recognized by FIFA,
the world's federation of soccer organizations. The region eventually widened to include the United
States and Canada. This led to Jamaica's first entry into the World Cup finals in 1998.
Jamaica's biggest problem in reaching World Cup competition had been its team. Although Jamaica
was filled with stars who could play a great game, they did not work together as a team as well as
they worked individually. Therefore, after a great deal of training and help from some of the best
in the world, the Reggae Boyz became one of three teams to reach the finals in 1998 – alongside
Mexico and the United States. Although they were eliminated after the first round, they did finish
the round points ahead of the U.S. team.
Olympic Sports
Perhaps it can be chalked up to a competitive streak in the Jamaican spirit, but no matter how
Jamaican people are driven to succeed, it's clear the island is here to stay in the Olympics.
Jamaica has claimed a large number of medals in track and field events, and who could forget the
Jamaican bobsled team's participation in the winter Olympics?
Track Traditions
After World War II, Jamaicans began competing in track events. In fact, in the 1996 Olympic
games Jamaica was ranked as one of the top-five nations based on number of medals won per capita of
the population.
Herb McKenley, Merlene Ottey, Donald Quarrie, and Arthur Wint are among some of Jamaica's famous
runners. However, you'll also find Jamaicans who now live in other countries competing for top
awards.
Bobsled
The Jamaican Bobsled (Bobsleigh) Team gained international notice when it set its sights on the
1988 Winter Olympics. The team had trouble in this early competition but was performing well by
1992, when it took 14th place against other teams, including the United States and France, in the
four-man team. The two-man team came in 10th place, above the Swedish national champions.
Although the team cannot train in Jamaica, where it never snows, they've worked hard to reach
the Olympics every four years. Their struggle inspired the Disney movie
Cool Runnings. They have also participated in the 2002
Winter Olympics and other competitions.
Other Sports
There are some surprises when it comes to other sports that are played on Jamaica. Horse racing
is popular, with all of the action centered at the Caymanas Park race track near Kingston. Tennis
and golf are also played, though they are not as widely popular as cricket or football. These
sports also tend to be pastimes of wealthier Jamaicans, however, they are also popular among
travelers.
American football has some followers in Jamaica as well. Most of these fans are those who have
emigrated from the United States or who have spent time there. Although pickup games may start up
among fans, the game is not widely followed on the island, and there are no local teams.
Basketball, on the other hand, is growing in popularity. Interestingly, many of Jamaica's
Chinese were the first to pick up the game in the 1940s. It wasn't until the 1960s that the rest of
Jamaica's population began considering playing the game. They have been playing internationally in
CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) tournaments, and women's player Simone Edwards has
played in Europe, as well as in the United States' WNBA with the Seattle Storms.
Cricket and football are the top games in Jamaica, but athletics are so popular that you can
always find a way to play when visiting this island, no matter what kind of sports you're
interested in. If playing isn't your thing, there are many fun opportunities to be a spectator.
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