Samuda: Cauldron Petal display a symbol of hope

Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA), said the Cauldron Petal display remains a symbol of hope for the Paralympic movement in Jamaica. This comes after a rededication ceremony for the display yesterday at the Norman Manley International Airport.

The Cauldron Petal is one of the 164 original petals that was lit during the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Each petal in the cauldron represents one of the 164 countries that competed at the games.

The Cauldron Petal, which sits in a glass display in the departure lounge at the airport, stands as a monument to Jamaica’s dedication to the development of the Paralympic movement.

Samuda said the display is particularly important to the nation as Jamaica’s petal was the first to be placed in the 2012 Paralympic Games flame.

INSPIRATION AND HOPE

“Well certainly the flame represents inspiration and the hope of the Paralympic movement and this was installed in 2014 and we are the first petal of the 164 petals that were in the Paralympic flame in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, so it is in fact very special for us.

“It is a landmark and persons who travel through the departure lounge now will certainly see that the Paralympic movement is certainly alive and well in Jamaica. They can see what it represents; the hope and the inspiration that our para-athletes have in order to excel and transition to the Paralympic stage.”

He said the petal stands as a source of inspiration for para-athletes. According to Samuda, the JPA views its athletes as more than just competitors, but rather as national ambassadors.

In this role, para-athletes are encouraged to work towards being standard-bearers both on and off the field of play.

“I’ve said to them that they should strive to be the greatest versions of yourselves. What we say to our para-athletes and our Para-Olympians is that you are national ambassadors and therefore you have a duty and obligation to ensure that you not only excel on the field of play, but you are standard-bearers.

“We always have champions, we always have achievers, gold medallists and such. All of those are in the books but what we say to them what is of distinction to us is that you are standard-bearers. We encourage that philosophy and our athletes have bought into that ambition.”

The Cauldron Petal was first installed at the Norman Manley International Airport in 2014 as a souvenir after the 2012 London Paralympic Games cauldron was dismantled after the games.