A new entry in FICTS – Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs (chaired by Prof. Franco Ascani Member of IOC Commission for “Culture and Olympic Heritage”) recognized by the International Olympic Committee for which it promotes the values of sports through the images. Jamaica, an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles, added to the list of Countries affiliated to the Federation. The Jamaica Olympic Association, chaired by Michael S. Fennell, is the 114th member Countries of Federation.

Jamaican athletes at Lononn 2012         © International Olympic Committee

Jamaica is famous for a lot of talent that offers especially in athletics, with a focus on the 100 and 200 meters with the Olympic champion as Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Michael Audley Frater and the young Yohan Blake. The mission of the Jamaica Olympic Association is to develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in Jamaica and to ensure that athletes from Jamaica attend the Olympic Games that is in line together with that one of FICTS that, among the other, promotes the social and cultural meaning of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, blending sport with culture, with the intent to spread a life philosophy, based on educational values and the respect of universal ethical principles of sports and Olympism. The JOA is committed to the development of athletes and supports the development of sport for all programmes. FICTS, that promotes and spreads the development of the Olympic Values and the culture of sports through the actual use of sports images, considers the Olympism as a universal ideal of culture through sport that is a great education tool for social change and for growth of young people.

The partnership between FICTS and the Jamaica Olympic Association expected, among others, the possibility to organize in Kingston a Phase of the “World FICTS Challenge” Worldwide Championship of Sport, Cinema and Television articulated in 16 Festivals in 5 Continents.