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INSULZA CONGRATULATES JAMAICA ON GOLD MEDALS

  August 19, 2008

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, by means of a letter sent yesterday to the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, congratulated the people of Jamaica for the gold and silver medals earned by Jamaican athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The letter is reproduced below:

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Excellency,

On behalf of the member countries and the staff of the Organization of American States (OAS), I heartily congratulate you and the great people of Jamaica on the incredible performance of your athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The sweep of the top spots in the men’s and women’s 100 meters by Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser respectively, as well as the double silver medals earned by Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson in the women’s 100 meters, are remarkable achievements for which you and the people of Jamaica should be very proud.

It is not often that an athlete from any of our Caribbean or Latin American countries wins many medals at these games. It therefore makes all of us in this hemisphere immensely happy and proud that our sister state of Jamaica so decisively claimed the coveted titles of the world’s fastest man and woman over the weekend.

Excellency, we at the OAS are cheering for and along with you and the Jamaican people as your athletes continue to perform at the highest levels during these games.

Please be assured of my highest consideration. Sincerely,

José Miguel Insulza

Reference: E-312/08