Sebastien Coe, the President of World Athletics and renowned British double Olympic champion, has commenced a significant diplomatic tour in Jamaica. His arrival at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston late Sunday night marked the beginning of several days of high-profile engagements with the nation’s sporting and governmental leadership. The track and field icon was formally received by Garth Gayle, President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).
The agenda for Coe’s visit includes strategic meetings at the highest levels of Jamaican governance. Scheduled discussions with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Sports Minister Olivia Grange follow an initial working breakfast with JAAA leadership. This itinerary underscores the collaborative spirit between international athletic governance and Jamaican sporting authorities.
A particularly poignant segment of Coe’s itinerary involves an inspection visit to the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Tuesday. The facility’s track has remained non-operational for six years and sustained additional damage during Hurricane Melissa in October, highlighting infrastructure challenges facing Jamaican athletics.
This visit represents Coe’s second official trip to Jamaica in under four years, following his previous attendance at the 2022 Carifta Games hosted in Kingston. The current tour emphasizes World Athletics’ continued commitment to nurturing Jamaica’s track and field legacy while addressing critical infrastructure needs.