Radio Jamaica Celebrating 70 Years

Sunday July 4, 2021 Page 37 A Perfect Pairing continued from page 36 entire British Caribbean region. In 1997, Radio Jamaica offered major coverage of the Reggae Boyz’s thrust to qualify for the 1998 FIFAWorld Cup in France. Our qualification became a national triumph, and for those not present at ‘The Office’ or watching television, Radio Jamaica was the primary source as Jamaica qualified in that glorious match against Mexico. In 2005, the RJR Communications Group showed its commitment to sport when it took over the staging of the National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, creating a new entity, the RJR Sports Foundation, to manage the event. In the period from then to now, the gala event has become must-watch TV for all Jamaicans and has received universal commendation from sports associations, athletes, and shareholders. In 2008, Radio Jamaica, now with TVJ as its television arm, was able to bring live pictures and commentary from what remains our most spectacular Olympic Games: the Beijing Olympics. The Games, which turned 100 metres world record holder Usain Bolt into a global phenomenon and introduced world beaters like Shelly-Ann Fraser and Melaine Walker, changed the expectations of Jamaicans as to the standard of coverage they should expect. The Group followed this up with similarly high-rated coverage of the 2009 Berlin IAAF World Championships. Even more amazing was the 2012 London Olympic Games. Neither TVJ nor Radio Jamaica had live event coverage, but the Group managed, through its team of expert analysts and its many hours of coverage, to attract the highest Jamaican viewership and listenership over the Games. The other broadcast station carried the events live, but everybody tuned in to TVJ pre-and post-event analysis. HITZ 92FM’s focus on sports and the many radio and TV sports programmes across the Group have maintained its position as the most trusted source of sports news. Sportsman of the year Usain Bolt and Sportswomen of the year Elaine Thompson pose with their trophies after the staging of the 2016 RJRGLEANER Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards. orts