World Championship in Athletics 200m silver medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown and her husband Omar Brown, Commonwealth Games 200m champion, are greeted by World Championships mascot Berlino on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday. Olivia Grange (background), minister of youth, sports and culture looks on. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Celebratory sparks are set to fly as the constellation of Jamaican stars who shone in Berlin, Germany, are poised to receive honours befitting kings and queens in the homeland.

Usain Bolt, the man who captured the hearts of millions across the globe in Beijing, China, a year ago and then followed up with superlative performances in the German capital under two months ago, is expected to take centre stage.

The fleet-footed Bolt will be accompanied by the likes of other gold medal winners Shelly-Ann Fraser (100m), Melaine Walker (400m hurdles), Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100m hurdles) as well as perennial favourites Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

The outpouring for the athletes will take place over a three-day period and is expected to come from Jamaicans of all walks of life.

Minister of Culture and Sports Olivia Grange explained that the celebrations this year would be toned down in comparison to last year when the team returned from the Olympics.

"Last year, the celebrations were elaborate because it was the first year that we did so well at the Olympics," Grange said. "This year, we did better in Berlin but with limited resources because of the global recession and the financial limitation, a decision was taken that the Government would not actually spend money to do the celebration."

It is in this light that a public-private sector partnership was formed, with the Government organising the events and private entities funding them.

Jamaica house reception

The homecoming celebration will kick off tonight with a reception at Jamaica House, followed by a thanksgiving service tomorrow at the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church in St Catherine and a major event on Sunday, which will take the form of a family fun day and concert at the multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny.

Grange said Trelawny was chosen as it is the home parish of the largest number of medal-winning athletes.

Among the athletes who hail from the area are triple world-record holder Usain Bolt, 200m silver medallist Campbell-Brown and sprint relay gold medallist Michael Frater.

"The concept this year is to have people interact with the athletes and be close to their sports heroes," she added.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com