Source : www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay


June 10 - Londoners and visitors will next summer get the opportunity to experience the best of Jamaican culture, music, and cuisine at Jamaica Village, which is being set-up at Finsbury Park being set-up to coincide with the Olympics.

The Village will feature performances by chart-topping artistes, food and drink from some of Jamaica's premium brands, as well as art and fashion and will also act as a focal point for the country's celebrations of the 50th anniversary of its Independence on Augst 6, 2012.

There will be 20,000 tickets available to the public for every day of the event, which will run from August 3 until 12, making it one of the biggest attractions in London next summer.

"We are taking everything that Jamaica is celebrated for and bringing it to London for 10 glorious days," said Danielle Cameron, the managing director of Jamaica Village 2012.

"Our creative team has done a remarkable job in developing a signature Jamaican experience that will delight all ages and honour Jamaica's 50th Anniversary of Independence, which we will also celebrate in 2012."

Existing Jamaica Village partners include the Jamaica Tourist Board, JAMPRO, the invest promotions agency; the Jamaica Exporters Association, the Jamaica Olympic Association, and the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association.

It will also help generate financial support for the development of youth athletic programmes.

Jamaica's athletes, led by Usain Bolt, are expected to be among the stars of next year's Olympics.

At the last Olympics in Beijing in 2008 their team finished fourth overall athletics with 11 medals, six of them gold, with Bolt winning the 100 and 200 metres and helping the 4x100m relay team to victory.

They did even better at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin when they finished second overall behind only the United States with 13 medals, seven of them gold, Bolt claiming another three.

Jamaica have already signed a deal to prepare for the Olympics at a pre-Games training camp in Birmingham, which is also planning a series of events around their presence in the city.

"Jamaica Village is going to win even more fans for the country, next summer," said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica Minister of Tourism.

"The team is driven to capture the energy that's here on the island.

"And when you match that with our excellent performances in sport, and the way in which our culture inspires people, we are thrilled that Jamaica Village will present the island to thousands of people in ways like never before."

Located in Haringey, Finsbury Park is a 46-hectare public park, and has recently undergone a £5 million ($8 million) renovation.

"The celebration of cultures from all over the world will be a key part of the London 2012 Games and we expect London to host many such events," said Zanine Adams, head of event solutions for London and Partners.

"We hope these will be celebrations for Londoners and visitors alike to mark this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of welcoming the world to the capital.

"We are very excited that Jamaica is proposing such an exciting venue and program of events for Games-time and we look forward to working with the Jamaican Village 2012 as a key destination in bringing the city to life."

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Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz