KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA), in collaboration with the Americas Paralympic Committee (AmPC), will this month embark on a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen the region’s capabilities in para fencing and para powerlifting.
The program will deliver both athlete classification and technical training, marking another decisive step in Jamaica’s role as a leader in Caribbean Parasports development.
This activation follows on the heels of last month’s intensive track and field training camp for Caribbean coaches and athletes, staged in partnership with Commonwealth Sports and the University of the West Indies, Mona. Building on that momentum, JPA President and AmPC Executive Board member Christopher Samuda described the association’s educational efforts as “launching missions into the universe and university of training and education with the goal of conquering the known and unknown in Parasports growth and development.”
Hands-on training from global authorities
Coaches, sport officials, and other key stakeholders will take part in immersive training camps led by international experts from World Abilitysport (Wheelchair Fencing) and World Para Powerlifting.
The curriculum will cover a wide range of competencies — from athlete classification and sport-specific rules to equipment handling, practical workshops, event organization, and athlete support systems. By exposing participants to world-class technical knowledge, the JPA aims to elevate standards across the region, ensuring Caribbean athletes and officials are on par with the best in the world.
Jamaica’s role as a regional hub
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has designated Jamaica as the hub for Caribbean Parasports development — a recognition Samuda calls “an earned opportunity for Jamaica to influence and impact regional development of not only coaches but also classifiers and International Technical Officials (ITOs) in pursuit of the goal of having several Caribbean classifiers and ITOs officiating and creating history in LA 2028.”
This vision aligns with the JPA’s strategic framework, which focuses on institutional capacity building and grassroots development in partnership with entities such as the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the AmPC.
Laying the groundwork for a centre of excellence
One of the program’s flagship outcomes will be the establishment of a Parasports High Performance Centre dedicated to serving the Caribbean. Samuda envisions it as more than just a training facility: “The aim is for an optimal experience in physical education, culture and performance wrapped in a Caribbean centre of excellence and legacy creation,” he said.
With Jamaica already making waves in para athletics, this expanded focus on fencing and powerlifting could pave the way for broader regional success — and potentially historic representation — on the world stage.
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