Newly-elected Jamaica Olympics Association (JOA) Director, Gary Peart, leads Jamaica’s delegation to the Tokyo Olympics, which officially gets started with its traditional parade of teams and Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, today (July 23).

However, one member of the team, long jumper Carey McLeod, will not make the trip after testing positive for COVID-19 at his training base at the University of Tennessee.

In total, Jamaica’s delegation comprises 97 members, headed by Chef de Mission Peart. Peter Higgins is the Assistant Chef de Mission while longtime track and field official, Gregory Manager, is the Jamaica team’s Logistics Manager.

Along with Peart, there are 16 other Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) officials, six coaches, four massage therapists, four personal coaches, three management officials, one track and field training partner and medical doctor, Dr Warren Blake, the former President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA).

Two-time Olympic 100 metres and reigning National 100 and 200 metres champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, headlines Jamaica’s 62-member team, which comprises 32 females and 29 males.

In addition to 100m National Record holder, Fraser-Pryce (10.63 seconds), who ran a personal and season-best 21.79 seconds over 200m, Shericka Jackson, with season bests 10.77 and 21.82 over 100 and 200m, respectively, completes an interesting Jamaica women’s sprint line-up that is loaded with medal promise.

A key part of that group is defending Olympic sprint double champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah, with personal bests of 10.70 and 21.78, respectively; and season bests 10.71 and 22.02. She has been running into good form lately and will be looking to repeat her glorifying performances from Rio 2016, where she took the 100 and 200m gold medals.

Jumpers Tajay Gayle, the 2019 World champion and females Shannika Ricketts and Kimberly Williams are expected to do well in their respective field events. Track and field action begins on July 30.

Fraser-Pryce and first-time qualifier, boxer Ricardo Brown, will be Jamaica’s flagbearers when the Olympic Games officially get underway with its traditional parade of countries and opening ceremony today at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium in Japan.

Brown, a super heavyweight boxer, is the first to represent Jamaica in boxing at the Games since 1996 in Atlanta. The 31-year-old, known widely as ‘Big 12’, won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and is ranked number four in the Americas in his weight class.

The sport of boxing numbers among five other disciplines in which Jamaica will be represented, including the powerful and renowned track and field contingent, which will lead Jamaica’s medal chase.

Swimming sensation and leading contender on the sport’s Grand Prix circuit, Alia Atkinson, is a four-time Olympian carrying hopes for medals in the pool with Keanan Dols.

Yona Knight-Wisdom, in his second Olympic Games, also competes in the pool in the discipline of diving, while Ebony Drysdale-Daley in judo and Danusia Francis, gymnastics, will be competing off track.