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BELIZE AT THE OLYMPICS!

Belize National Anthem will be played if a Belizean win a gold medal.


Commentator: "Belize the Caribbean nation on the Central American section of the
continent. Small Belizean team. I'm sure that while all Belizeans will
pay close attention to these athletes, they will also recall fondly that
Marion Jones of the U.S. has Belizean ties. But the athletes you saw
just now are the ones carrying the Belize flag high and we'll keep a
watch on them."

The small nation of Belize, located in northern Central America, has much
more in common with the English-speaking islands of the Caribbean than it
does with its Spanish-speaking neighbors. Its people, which include mestizos
(people of Spanish-Indian descent) and Creoles, are renowned for their hospitality,
and the country is a heavily visited destination, especially for ecotourists
who come to see Belize's vast rainforest and abundant wildlife, as well as the
world's second-largest barrier reef. Mayan ruins also attract archaeology enthusiasts.


Competitors from Belize!
Name                     Event       BirthDate       Height(cm/ft)      Weight(kg/lb)
JONES Jayson      Men's 200m       1977-08-15       180/5'11"       85/187
Results:
Men's Athletics 200m Round 1, Heat 1
Rank:   #7
Name: JONES, Jayson
Country: BELIZE
Time:   22.20
Behind: 1.44

WADE Emma      Women's 100m     1980-12-19     175/5'09"     75/165
Results:
Women's Athletics 100m Round 1, Heat 3
Rank:   #7
Name: WADE, Emma
Country: BELIZE
Time:   12.25
Behind: 0.98
Emma ran her personal best! Belizeans around the world are very proud of her!
Congratulations Emma!

Link: Marion Jones Biography
(Mother is from Belize and Marion holds dual nationality)

Jayson Jones - Belize
Sport: Athletics
Event(s): Men's 200m
PERSONAL DETAILS
Date of birth: 15 Aug 1977
Gender: Male
Height: 180 cm / 5'11"
Weight: 85 kgs / 187 lbs
Personal bests: 20.920

Emma Wade - Belize
Sport: Athletics
Event(s): Women's 100m
PERSONAL DETAILS
Date of birth: 19 Dec 1980
Gender: Female
Height: 175 cm / 5'9"
Weight: 75 kgs / 165 lbs
Personal bests: 12.350

Sports Culture

Belize's sports culture reflects the historical influences of Britain (football and, to a lesser extent, cricket) and the United States (basketball and softball). Despite the fact that athletes have poor facilities and little sponsorship or professional training, many Belizeans are active in a variety of sports and have participated in several regional and international competitions.

Basketball was probably introduced to Belize by American Jesuits at St John's College in the early 20th century, and a league formed in the 1920s. Henry "Eagle" Usher, who played for some 25 years, was one of the early stars. The Belize Amateur Basketball Association was created in 1974, and in 1992 semiprofessional basketball debuted in the Civic Centre. The national team has won several Caribbean tournaments. Football is also enjoyed throughout the country. In 1986, Belize was accepted as a member of the F�d�ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), though it has yet to qualify for the World Cup. The Belize National Football Association was formed in 1980, and there is a national competition between 13 semiprofessional teams representing the various districts in the country. A women's league was started in the late 1990s.

Boxing developed in the 1930s, and several Belizeans have achieved international fame, including Ludwig Lightburn and Fitzroy Guiseppi. Cross-country cycling has been practised for more than 70 years, with annual road races that reach distances of nearly 240 kilometres (150 miles). Also popular is women's softball. The national team has won medals at various tournaments, including a bronze medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. Other sports include tennis and volleyball.

Belize formed an Olympic committee in 1967 as British Honduras and appeared at three Summer Games (1968, 1972 and 1976). As an independent country, it made its first Olympic appearance at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Belizean athletes have not won a medal, and the country has never participated in the Winter Games.

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