The Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) and Uber are deepening their partnership to ensure Para athletes have greater access to training and competition. 

The collaboration will soon deliver a free Uber Ride Programme for all registered Para athletes, a groundbreaking initiative to be launched in time for the Jamaica Para Sport Festival on October 4.

This initiative reflects a growing relationship between Uber and the JPA, one rooted in a shared commitment to breaking down barriers and empowering athletes. The renewed partnership was forged earlier this year during the visit of International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons and Americas Paralympic Committee executive director Michele Formonte, marking a significant milestone in the movement to support Para sport in Jamaica.

For JPA president Christopher Samuda, the collaboration carries a meaning far greater than logistics.

“JPA and Uber are driven to serve the differently abled and to fuel the aspirations of our Para athletes,” Samuda remarked. “This is a solid partnership that goes beyond the inked contract and mobility and resides in the mutual conviction that, together, we can overcome the adversities and roadblocks of life by creating highway havens where Para athletes can be inspired. Uber is fully on board!”

Carolina Coto, senior manager of communications in Central America and the Caribbean at Uber, reinforced the company’s commitment.

“At Uber, we believe that access to reliable mobility is fundamental to creating equal opportunities. Our partnership with the Jamaica Paralympic Association reflects our commitment to breaking down barriers so Para athletes can focus on their training and ambitions without limitations,” she said.

From the perspective of coaches and athletes, the impact will be immediate. Neville Sinclair, long-standing athletics coach and former Paralympian, emphasised the difference this programme will make on the training ground.

“This move will be helpful to our athletes. We have athletes who have challenges showing up for training as scheduled, sometimes only being able to make it two times per week,” Sinclair opined. “This programme will ensure that they have options and feel supported to come to training. I expect to see improvement in their skillsets and put us in a better position for future competitions.”

Together, these camps and the new mobility programme highlight a growing movement to ensure Jamaica’s Para athletes are fully equipped, supported, and empowered to achieve success at every level.

As anticipation builds for the October Para Sport Festival, the strengthened Uber/JPA partnership stands as both a practical solution and a symbol of possibility, demonstrating that with the right support, athletes can pursue their goals without limits.