Top 5 — Usain Bolt Named Jamaica Tourist Board Global Ambassador
PLUS: Hakeem Olajuwon visits Guyana, Jamaica hosts the Thompson twins, and more
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Let’s jump into the top stories of the week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
Usain Bolt Named Jamaica Tourist Board Global Ambassador
Big up Usain!
Usain Bolt has been Jamaica's unofficial ambassador for years through his extraordinary athletic achievements and magnetic personality, but that relationship has finally been formalized.
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett announced Bolt’s appointment as Global Ambassador at the Jamaica Tourist Board's 70th anniversary party in Kingston.
This long-overdue partnership will play a transformative role in how the island markets itself to the world.
The 38-year-old will take a lead role in marketing campaigns in order to try and boost visitor numbers to the Caribbean island.
Bottom Line - With Jamaica targeting five million visitor arrivals and $5 billion in tourism earnings by 2026, Bolt will bring new energy and credibility to the country’s global campaign. The track icon will be a central figure in the JTB’s next international marketing push, scheduled to launch in August 2025.
Read more
🇧🇸 The Bahamas
Tiger Woods Doubles Down on The Bahamas
Tiger Woods has made a significant investment in the Bahamas, purchasing prime land in New Providence that’s set to transform the island’s luxury real estate market.
Reports suggest the new development will be an exclusive golf-centered community that features:
A signature golf course designed by Woods himself
Ultra-luxury residential villas and estates
Private marina access for yacht owners
Exclusive members-only amenities
Bottom Line - This isn’t Woods’ first foray into Bahamian real estate. His involvement with the exclusive Albany resort, co-founded with Ernie Els and billionaire Joe Lewis, has already proven successful. His new venture appears to build on that experience while creating something distinctly his own.
Read more
🇯🇲 Jamaica
Jamaica Basketball Hosts the Thompson Twins
Twin NBA stars Amen and Ausar Thompson are two of the brightest young talents in basketball.
Amen was named in the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team after a standout season with the Houston Rockets, and Ausar helped the Detroit Pistons to their first playoff appearance in six years.
Now, they have expressed interest in representing Jamaica at the international level.
The Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) hosted a special meet and greet to welcome the brothers who are in the country to begin the process of acquiring their Jamaican passports—an important first step toward one day donning the black, green, and gold.
JABA President Paulton Gordon revealed that talks with the twins’ father, Troy Thompson, began nearly five years ago.
Their intent to represent Jamaica has sparked excitement, but it’s also important to manage expectations.
Under FIBA rules, players must acquire passports before age 16 to compete for a national team. Because the Thompsons missed that window, JABA would need to pursue a longer approval process.
Bottom Line - Sunday’s event marks a pivotal moment for basketball in Jamaica. And while the Thompsons’ immediate availability for national duty may be constrained, the Jamaica basketball movement is gaining serious momentum.
Read more
🇬🇾 Guyana
Hakeem Olajuwon Visits Guyana
NBA Hall-of-Famer and global basketball icon, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, took center court at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in a powerful and interactive session that blended storytelling, technical wisdom, and personal reflection.
Olajuwon, a two-time NBA Champion (1994, 1995) and Finals MVP, was in Guyana courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to grow and develop basketball across the country.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, stressed that Olajuwon’s presence would help shine a brighter spotlight on the sport in Guyana, inspiring the next generation of players and helping to build a culture of excellence.
Bottom Line - Basketball is a core sport in Guyana’s national development agenda, and Olajuwon’s visit is the latest example of how the government is elevating its commitment to sports.
Read more
🇯🇲 Jamaica
Jamaica Football Finally Making Money
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has reported a $860K surplus for the first quarter of 2025, a continuation of its financial turnaround under the leadership of President Michael Ricketts and General Secretary Dennis Chung.
This marks the third consecutive quarter of surplus, following a second straight year of positive returns in 2024.
The improved figures come on the back of structural reforms initiated by President Ricketts.
Chung emphasized that the JFF's gains were not solely due to the federation’s lucrative partnership with Adidas, even though the apparel deal has played a role. The JFF has also begun generating revenue through its own media content, including YouTube streaming of games and features.
That said, the real story is improved governance. 2024 revenues were actually lower than 2023, yet the surplus was larger.
Bottom Line - With new sponsorship deals on the horizon and tighter fiscal management in place, the JFF is finally in a position to shift more of its focus toward growing the sport both on and off the field.
Read more
Until next time ✌🏾
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