Top 5 — Turkey Courts Jamaican Sprinters for LA28
PLUS: Wray & Nephew fuels JPL, Women’s CPL heads to Guyana, and more
Whatsup Squad,
Let’s jump into the top stories of the week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
Turkey Courts Jamaican Sprinters for LA28
Turkish athletics officials are attempting to lure elite Jamaican track and field athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The move reportedly includes an upfront payment of at least $500,000 (USD) per athlete along with substantial monthly stipends and performance bonuses for medals earned at global competitions.
The effort is part of a broader push by Turkey to bolster its Olympic medal chances through naturalization, with several top Jamaican athletes being approached quietly in recent weeks.
Over the past two decades, Jamaica has lost several athletes to other nations, including Jak Ali Harvey, who switched allegiance to Turkey.
The recruitment push is operating with urgency, as the athletes must acquire Turkish citizenship and residency before the end of this month in order to satisfy the three-year eligibility rule enforced by World Athletics for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Bottom Line - Though the practice is not new, the scale and secrecy of the current attempt cast a shadow over Jamaica’s sporting landscape. With athletes seeking more financial security and long-term support than the Jamaican government is able or willing to provide, the financial incentives may be too tempting for young athletes to turn down.
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🇯🇲 Jamaica
Wray & Nephew Fuels Jamaica Premier League
Over the past four seasons the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) has expanded to 14 clubs and introduced a third round of fixtures (a 50% increase in match days).
Now in Year 2 of the Wray & Nephew title deal, the JPL is seeing clear gains in competitiveness, player development, and fan engagement.
A record number of players under the age of 18 logged minutes this season, aligning with the league’s goal of showcasing emerging talent.
League estimates also indicate attendance climbed 10-15%.
Extra fixtures and more teams translate to added broadcast hours, sponsorship real estate, and transfer-market visibility.
Bottom Line - Wray & Nephew has not only amplified the mission and the strategy of the JPL, but also of the entire Jamaican sports ecosystem. Over the past 10 years, J. Wray & Nephew has invested over $6.3M (USD) in sports in Jamaica.
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🏝️ Caribbean
Reggae Boyz and Soca Warriors Headline All-Island World Cup Qualifier Group
Bermuda, Curaçao, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago have been drawn into an all-island Group B for the final round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region.
This round features home-and-away games in three windows between September and October.
The winner of each of the groups will join co-hosts USA, Mexico and Canada as the CONCACAF teams, while the next two best runners-up will advance to an intercontinental playoff in March 2026 for a possible total of eight teams in the World Cup.
Bottom Line - The English-speaking Caribbean has not had a representative in the Men’s World Cup since 2006, when Trinidad and Tobago made their first appearance. Now, they are guaranteed at least 1 team in the 2026 tournament.
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🇬🇾 Guyana
Women’s CPL Heads to Guyana
Guyana is set to host the fourth season of the Massy Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) from September 6-17th.
The tournament will feature three teams: the Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders.
Launched in 2022 in St. Kitts & Nevis, the WCPL moved to Trinidad & Tobago for its 2023 and 2024 editions.
Bottom Line - Adding further excitement, the WCPL matches will be played as double-headers alongside games from the Republic Bank Men’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
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🇧🇧 Barbados
CIBC Caribbean Doubles Down on Sports Sponsorship
The Athletics Association of Barbados and CIBC Caribbean have announced a historic partnership.
CIBC Caribbean will invest $200,000 (USD) in the National Junior Program over the next four years to benefit Barbadian junior athletes.
This is not the first investment in sports for the financial services company.
Among other engagements, CIBC Caribbean has also sponsored the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships and the Barbados Rally2 Championship.
Bottom Line - CIBC Caribbean joins Republic Bank (CPL) in using sport as a brand-building lever across the region. Expect rival banks and insurers to feel pressure to match or outbid as they chase youth and diaspora goodwill.
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Until next time ✌🏾
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