With the sport of cricket set to debut at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games and gain resurgence at the LA 2028 Olympic Games after more than a century of absence, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has partnered with the organisers of the Bolivarian Games to have a male and female team play in an exhibition tournament at the South American Bolivarian Games which will be staged later this month and in early December.

JOA President, Christopher Samuda, expressed pleasure in the historic initiative, stating: “The JOA has a solid relationship with the Peruvian National Olympic Committee, and this led to us being approached and thereafter bilateral discussions were held which led to this groundbreaking partnership in sport from which our cricketers will benefit.”

The Bolivarian Games (Spanish translation: Juegos Deportivos Bolivarianos) are a regional multi-sport event held in honour of Simón Bolívar, with the main participating countries being Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia.

“Sport is inextricably bound to the history of humanity, and these games in celebrating the liberating legacy of Simón Bolivar give our cricketers an opportunity to be an integral part in preserving history at the wicket while envisioning their future in Lima and LA beyond the pavilion,” President Samuda said.

As Jamaica looks to qualify for both the Pan Am and Olympic Games, JOA Secretary General/CEO, Ryan Foster, sets the train in motion: “The JOA has pulled out of the station and is on a fast track in giving opportunities to our cricketers and the Bolivarian Games are test matches which the JOA has facilitated as part of the preparation for real deal in LA” he said.

The JOA’s “Sport for All, and All for Sport” policy has gained traction on the field of play, and JOA President in emphasising this remarked that “deepening and diversifying Jamaica’s talent pool in sport is the only way to build a sustainable reservoir that won’t run dry and the JOA is all about irrigating talent.” The JOA delegation is scheduled to leave the island for Lima shortly and will be joined by participating teams from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Anguilla.