File photos
LEFT: Members of Jamaica's men 4x400-metre relay team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 pray before the final event, then celebrated after winning it in record time.
RIGHT: Veronica Campbell-Brown giving the Father thanks after winning the women's 200-metre final during the Beijing Olympics.
Hartley Neita, Contributor
WE ARE a very religious people. Sometimes I believe we are over-religious. We boast that we have more churches per square mile than any other country. At the slightest hint of trouble, we shout to Our Father and beg him for mercy, especially if television cameras are in our vicinity.
Sometimes we overdo the praying and worshiping. Every company, political party, association, service club and other organisations celebrate their anniversaries with a religious service - to which, of course, the news media is invited.
At one time when Manning Cup football matches were played between St George's College and other schools, it was the habit of a Roman Catholic priest to go on the field - just before the start of the matches - and gather the boys from George's together for prayers. Spectators never heard these prayers, but it was clear the prayers were not for a sportsmanlike game, but for victory for the school.
Intimidating weapon
I do not know if this practice still continues, but I do recall that John Searchwell, a former president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, wrote a letter complaining about this habit. He felt that the school was using religion as an intimidating weapon to cow the opposing teams. Far better, he felt, would be for the priest to call both teams together and pray and bless them.
Of course, note was taken by cynics that the priests never gathered the school's team together at the end of the matches and give thanks if they won, and pray for God's consolation if they lost.
There are, of course, individuals and groups who appear to be more genuine in their search for God's help. Noteworthy are our sportsmen and women. It has always been heart-warming to me to hear athletes being interviewed on television after they have won their races, giving thanks, first to God and then their parents.
Memory recalls a one-paragraph news item about Collie Smith (of Boys' Town and Kingston College) who was reported to have taken time out from the West Indies team to teach a Sunday School class while the West Indies was on a tour of England.
Helsinki 1952
Another memory is of an England team which went to St George's Anglican Church in Kingston to worship, along with members of the West Indies team.
One of my favourite all-time sports photographs is of the Jamaica 4x400-metre relay team of Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, George Rhoden and Les Laing standing huddled together on the track at Helsinki in 1952 with bowed heads and praying just before the start of their record-breaking final.
Team manager Herbert Mac-Donald sent the photograph to The Daily Gleaner and said:
"Led by Rhoden, they are giving thanks to God for having given them the opportunity to compete in the world festival of sports. Time will prove this to be one of the really outstanding pictures of the 15th Olympiad. It shows Christians behaving like Christians. It should show the world that we are a God-fearing people, and be an example to schoolchildren, and even grown-ups, for that matter."
Well-raised boy
Fast forward to Beijing 2008.
As he always does, Usain Bolt made the sign of the cross just before settling in the start position, kisses his fingers and looks quickly upwards to the sky. A well-raised boy from the heart of Jamaica's country.
The photograph which should be used as the symbol of Jamaica's presence in Beijing is that of Veronica Campbell-Brown, kneeling on the track after her 200-metre gold medal victory. Giving thanks.
It should be mounted on billboards at our airports and in every village square in the island.
Praising God from whom all blessings flow.
