Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Minister for Information, Culture, Youth and Sports (centre), welcomes back Jamaica's Special Olympics team at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

HUGS AND kisses greeted Jamaica's triumphant Special Olympics team which returned to the island yesterday.

A jubilant Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange showered affection upon members of the team as they disembarked from two separate flights at the Norman Manley International Airport.

The team of 55 athletes won a record 48 medals during the Special Olympic World Games in Beijing, China - surpassing their previous best of 37.

Record haul

Among the record haul were two gold, four silver and five bronze in swimming, while soccer players reaped one gold, seven silver and four bronze and the track and field athletes claimed five gold, three silver and four bronze.

The footballers also won gold while roller skating produced four gold, three silver and one bronze.

The badminton team pocketed four bronze medals, while the basketball team finished fourth and the volleyballers fifth.

Minister Grange expressed delight at the return of the athletes.

"It is so good to see you," Grange said. "Welcome home, this is a wonderful feeling," she said at a small reception to greet the athletes in the airport's VIP lounge. "We are proud of you, Jamaica is proud of you, you are superstars," she told them.

She also thanked sponsor Digicel: "You walk the walk and talk the talk," she told Digicel to thunderous applaud from the athletes.

Pleased with performance

Head of delegation Lorna Bell described the team's performance as "extremely awesome". She sad the team was well prepared and this contributed to the success.

Shanakay Ismay, who won gold in the 200m (28.22) and 4x100m and silver in the 100m (14.16), said she was pleased with her performances.

She, however, believes with a little more luck she could have gotten another gold.

"I was working hard for the gold (in the 100m) but I am still satisfied with the silver that I got," she said while also thanking her family and coaches.

Andre Johnstone, athletics coach, said the performance of his troops was great but "the female 4x100m team's performance was the best overall".

Floyd Harrison, coach of the football team, said hard work was what paid off for his charges.

The athletes will be honoured by Grange at a special breakfast on Tuesday morning at the Alhambra Inn hotel in St. Andrew.