
Olympian Christine Day, who was selected as the first sports exchange adviser (SEA) from Jamaica for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, said she will be offering her assistance to Jamaican athletes at the Tokyo, Japan World Athletics Championships next month.
Having competed in Japan and represented Jamaica in the 400m at competitions, including the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, as well as the Beijing World Athletics Championship in 2015, she plans to use her position as SEA to help the Jamaican athletes who will be camping and competing in Japan soon.
“ [I will] provide local insight – offer valuable advice on navigating the Japanese sports landscape, including training facilities, competition schedules, and cultural nuances. [Help with] networking opportunities – facilitate connections between Jamaican athletes, coaches, and Japanese sports organisations, promote potential partnerships and collaborations, [and assist with] mentorship – share my experience and expertise, helping athletes optimise their performances and achieve their goals, “ the 4x400m gold medallist at 2015 World Athletics Championships said.
The many-time Olympic, World Championships and Commonwealth Games medallist said she hopes to use her position to make this year’s World Championships memorable for Jamaican athletes.
“ [I want to] foster sports development by sharing Jamaican expertise and best practices with Japanese sports organisations, promoting mutual growth and development, and foster cultural exchanges by encouraging people-to-people diplomacy and promoting understanding and respect between Jamaican and Japanese cultures,” the 38-year-old said.
Day is among eight Jamaicans who will participate in the 2025 JET programme.
“It was presented to me by someone to sign up, and I went for it,” she said. “I’m honoured and thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. It’s a chance to be a catalyst for change.”
She said she is looking forward to the experience, but mostly “learning the Japanese culture, learn from their sports systems, and share my expertise along with our Jamaican culture”.
The others Jamaicans in the 2025 JET Programme, and who will serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) are Asmahani-Aza Cooke, Judy Ann Bailey, Mikayl Walker, Danelle Matthews, Amani Cooke, and Leigh Ann Johnson, who is already in Japan.
The now retired athlete, who had her last competition in 2022, has called on other Jamaicans to sign up for the JET Programme.
“ If you’re passionate about sports, culture, and community development, I encourage you to seize this opportunity. Be open-minded, willing to learn, and eager to share your expertise. Together we can create a lasting impact, promoting sports excellence and cultural understanding between Jamaica and Japan,” Day, who was the national 400m champion in 2015, said.
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