Jamaica’s para-athletes, brimming with untapped potential, are set to take center stage this week as the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) launches a groundbreaking initiative to elevate para-sports in the country. On Saturday, the JPA will host the Grassroots Para Sport Festival at Liberty Academy in St. Andrew, featuring competitions in track and field, powerlifting, archery, and fencing. This event is a cornerstone of the JPA’s I Am Phenomenal campaign, aimed at fostering public awareness and education about para-sports. JPA President Christopher Samuda emphasized the festival’s role in reshaping public perception of the paralympic movement, highlighting the athletes’ resilience and determination to transcend challenges and achieve excellence. Samuda also called for increased corporate involvement, urging private sector stakeholders to become long-term partners in the movement. The festival, supported by the Americas Paralympic Committee, the Latin American Development Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank, is expected to serve as a model for future para-sport development both nationally and regionally. By showcasing the athletes’ skills and inspiring stories, the JPA hopes to ignite a lasting transformation in how para-sports are perceived and supported in Jamaica.