The iconic Usain Bolt statue at the National Stadium was illuminated on Thursday, September 25, to kick off Jamaica’s observance of World Heart Week 2025, culminating on World Heart Day, today, September 29.
The initiative promotes cardiovascular health awareness and encourages Jamaicans to adopt heart-healthy lifestyles.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, who attended the lighting ceremony, described the event as a symbolic reminder of the heart’s essential role in daily life.
“This occasion is reflective of an athletic career that has been a light to the world, and a lighting up that brightens the focus on one of the body’s most important organs, the heart,” she said.
Minister Grange highlighted the urgency of this year’s World Heart Day theme, ‘Don’t Miss a Beat’, stressing that preventing heart disease is not a distant goal but a necessity today.
“Preventing heart disease is not a future goal but a necessity—right here, right now—to save lives. It also encourages global participation in campaigns and activities aimed at reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular disease,” she stated.
The Minister further underscored the link between heart health and daily life, particularly in sports performance. “Being here at Statue Park at the National Stadium, we are reminded that a healthy heart is a prerequisite for sports performance,” she said.
Minister Grange urged Jamaicans to let the illuminated statue serve as inspiration: “Let this statue, bathed in light, inspire us to make our hearts stronger, our communities healthier, and our nation brighter.”
She also commended the Heart Foundation of Jamaica for its ongoing efforts to raise awareness and promote preventative measures. “Your work, no doubt, contributes to the saving of lives and a healthier Jamaica overall. I wish the Heart Foundation of Jamaica every success in this World Heart Week and beyond,” she said.
World Heart Day, a global initiative led by the World Heart Federation, aims to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. In Jamaica, the observance expands into a week-long campaign featuring public engagement activities, coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in partnership with the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, and supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders including private sector partners, health professionals, educators, and community leaders.
