This year’s Olympic games in Sochi, Russia are sure to be memorable, but they will also be very nostalgic.  The Jamaican bobsled team will be making their return to the Winter Olympics, with the two-man team of Winston Watt and Marvin Dixon, after having failed to qualify since 2002.  This marks only the seventh Winter Olympics for Jamaica to ever participate in.  With any luck, the Jamaican bobsled duo will experience such great success in this year’s games that Disney will be prompted to create a “Cool Runnings” sequel.

The road to Sochi has not been easy for the Jamaicans.  After qualifying for the games in early January, the bobsled team realized they did not have enough funds to finance the trip and equipment costs.  Because the brilliance of John Candy and an amazing montage were no longer available means to raise the necessary funds, the team looked to the Internet for support. With the original goal of only $80,000, the Jamaicans ended up receiving over $100,000 in donations in a matter of only a few days.

             It seemed the bobsledders were on their way and could not be slowed down any more, but they were beset with even more difficulties.  When they arrived in Sochi, the Jamaican bobsledders were surprised and annoyed to find out that their luggage  containing their clothing and sledding equipment, had not arrived with them. Thankfully, other bobsled teams reached out in support and allowed the Jamaicans to borrow materials so that they could get practice runs in.  The luggage arrived in Sochi, and the Jamaicans were finally set to make their mark on the 2014 Olympics.

Though the Jamaicans finally seem to be running cool on the tracks, nobody knows for sure whether their troubles have truly come to an end.  Nevertheless, the bobsled team will sure be a sight to see as they represent their snow-less country in the 2014 Olympic games.  They are constantly being compared to a movie, but could very well write their own story with these   Olympic games.  My loyalty during the Winter Olympics remains with the US teams, but you can be certain that come the Jamaican bobsled team’s turn in the event, I will be  screaming, “Feel the rhythm!  Feel the rhyme! Get on up, IT’S BOBSLED TIME!”