GOOD NEWS: Rio Olympians on show this weekend + I Am Bolt out in Nov + David & Denese James reflect

PUSHING PAST THE PAIN: The healing has begun for David and Denese James (parents of Dominic James), who gave their first televised sit-down interview earlier this week, as they try to come to terms with the passing of their beloved and talented son. Looking serene in light blue (the colour of Dominic’s St. George’s College football gear), the James’ were guests on CVM’s Football GPS on Tuesday night, where they opened up to host Wayne Walker about their loss and how they are pushing past the pain. Whether recalling Dominic’s immense passion for the sport, his easy-going style or that fateful September day at Stadium East, the parents came across as folks who’ve been through quite an emotional storm but have emerged from the undertow with their bearings intact. As Mrs. James admits, she hasn’t returned to her day job since Dominic’s death, but her boss and colleagues, who’ve reached out via telephone, have been very supportive. What’s most obvious though is that David and Denese, an elegant middle-class couple, are each other’s rock, pulling strength from each other in this time of bereavement. Looking ahead, they want the St. George’s College boys to continue to excel, in memory of their departed son, whose thanksgiving service brought a sea of mourners to the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Downton Kingston on Saturday, and whose Dominic Alessandro Foundation will be launched in the coming months. “It’s about the team now,” Mrs. James reflected, a sentiment that Dominic would no doubt have endorsed. 

CELEBRATION TIME: Sculptor Basil Watson has been commissioned to create a series of life-size statues that will be erected at the National Stadium in honour of our new-generation athletics heroes Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Asafa Powell, over the course of the next two years. The Lightning Bolt and Pocket Rocket statues will be completed, according to sports and culture minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, in time for next year’s observance of #Jamaica55, while the VCB and Asafa monuments will be unveiled the following year. With retirement looming large on the horizon for these extraordinary sportsmen and women, it’s a most fitting gesture from the Jamaican government, which will pay tribute to the Rio Olympians and Paralympians via a series of events over this coming Heroes’ Weekend. Friday brings the Prime Minister’s reception on the lawns of Jamaica House; on Saturday the National Indoor Sports Centre will come alive with a cultural-themed celebration; and on Sunday the festivities move to the western end of the island for a reception at the Melia Braco Hotel. In the meantime, monetary rewards – ranging from US$20,000 to US$1,000 – will be presented to the medallists, event finalists and team officials whose exploits in Brazil over the summer reaffirmed Jamaica’s position as a serious force to be reckoned with in international track-and-field.

DIRECTOR’S CUT: Finally! The long-anticipated I Am Bolt documentary has been given a (November) release date. The World’s Fastest Man made the announcement via his Twitter page this week, while revealing the film’s visually arresting new poster to his fans. The documentary charts the legendary Jamaican sprinter’s rise to global superstardom and how he’s preparing for life after track-and-field.

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