Jamaica Sports Summit Targets Global South Leadership and New Industry Growth

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is preparing to host the first Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit, with representatives from sport, commerce, tourism, government, investment, media, technology, education and athlete development expected to take part later this month.

The event is scheduled for June 29 and 30 at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Its central focus is how the country can turn its record of producing elite athletes into a broader, high-performing sports economy.

Organisers, in a release, said the gathering is being framed as one of the most far-reaching sports industry events Jamaica has hosted. It also sits within a larger effort to position the island as “the sports capital of the Global South.”

Absolut Ventures Limited, the company behind what organisers describe as the world’s first and only televised freestyle football reality show, is staging the summit. Discussions are expected to examine how sport connects with tourism, investment, technology, infrastructure, media, health and wellness, youth development and national economic expansion.

“Jamaica has already proven that we can compete with the best in the world,” said Alrick McKenzie, founder and summit director of the Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit. “The next step is building the systems, partnerships, investment opportunities, and infrastructure that allow sport to become a stronger economic driver for the country. This summit is about bringing the right people into the same room to have those conversations and create meaningful outcomes.”

Simon Preston, a sports consultant, analyst and media officer, said the initiative comes at an important moment as Jamaica considers how to give its sports sector a more organised future.

“Jamaica has an extraordinary sporting brand, but the opportunity now is to build a stronger ecosystem around that brand. We have almost 50 sporting disciplines on the island and this is the perfect opportunity for the different disciplines to come together, learn from each other and move forward for a better Jamaica.

“Jamaica is number eight in the world in lacrosse, number three in the world in netball and we have the fastest man and woman alive. These are certainly points that can be used to help other sporting disciplines reach their potential,” said Preston.

He added that the Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit offers space for focused dialogue on athlete development routes, investment, facilities, technology, governance, tourism and commercial growth.

“If Jamaica is to fully maximise its global sporting influence, we must connect talent with opportunity, and this summit is designed to help lead that process.”

The programme will include keynote addresses, fireside chats, panel sessions, workshops, networking and strategy discussions with sports associations, athletes, private-sector executives, investors, tourism leaders, policy officials and educators.