Jamaica Gleaner

Samuda: Cauldron Petal display a symbol of hope

- Gregory Bryce/Staff Reporter

CHRISTOPHE­R SAMUDA, president of the Jamaica Paralympic Associatio­n (JPA), said the Cauldron Petal display remains a symbol of hope for the Paralympic movement in Jamaica. This comes after a rededicati­on ceremony for the display yesterday at the Norman Manley Internatio­nal Airport.

The Cauldron Petal is one of the 164 original petals that was lit during the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Each petal in the cauldron represents one of the 164 countries that competed at the games.

The Cauldron Petal, which sits in a glass display in the departure lounge at the airport, stands as a monument to Jamaica’s dedication to t he developmen­t of t he Paralympic movement.

Samuda said the display is particular­ly i mportant to the nation as Jamaica’s petal was the first to be placed in the 2012 Paralympic Games flame.

INSPIRATIO­N AND HOPE

“Well certainly the flame represents inspiratio­n and the hope of the Paralympic movement and this was installed in 2014 and we are the first petal of the 164 petals that were in the Paralympic flame in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, so it is in fact very special for us.

“It is a landmark and persons who travel through the departure lounge now will certainly see that the Paralympic movement is certainly alive and well in Jamaica. They can see what it represents; the hope and the inspiratio­n that our para-athletes have in order to excel and transition to the Paralympic stage.”

He said t he petal stands as a source of inspiratio­n for para-athletes. According to Samuda, the JPA views its athletes as more than just competitor­s, but rather as national ambassador­s.

In this role, para-athletes are encouraged to work towards being standard-bearers both on and off the field of play.

“I’ve said to them that they should strive to be the greatest versions of yourselves. What we say to our para-athletes and our ParaOlympi­ans is that you are national ambassador­s and therefore you have a duty and obligation to ensure that you not only excel on the field of play, but you are standard-bearers.

“We always have champions, we always have achievers, gold medallists and such. All of those are in the books but what we say to them what is of distinctio­n to us is that you are standard-bearers. We encourage that philosophy and our athletes have bought into that ambition.”

The Cauldron Petal was first installed at the Norman Manley Internatio­nal Airport in 2014 as a souvenir after the 2012 London Paralympic Games cauldron was dismantled after the games.

 ?? PHOTOS BY ANTOINE LODGE/ PHOTOGRAPH­ER ?? Christophe­r Samuda, president of the Jamaica Paralympic Associatio­n, at the rededicati­on of the Cauldron Petal display at the Norman Manley Internatio­nal Airport yesterday.
PHOTOS BY ANTOINE LODGE/ PHOTOGRAPH­ER Christophe­r Samuda, president of the Jamaica Paralympic Associatio­n, at the rededicati­on of the Cauldron Petal display at the Norman Manley Internatio­nal Airport yesterday.
 ?? ?? Rev Khan Honeyghan at the rededicati­on of the Cauldron Petal display at the Norman Manley Internatio­nal Airport’s Departure Lounge yesterday.
Rev Khan Honeyghan at the rededicati­on of the Cauldron Petal display at the Norman Manley Internatio­nal Airport’s Departure Lounge yesterday.

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