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Day looking to help Jamaican athletes at World Champs
August 11, 2025
Olympian Christine Day, who was selected as the first Sports Exchange Advisor (SEA) from Jamaica for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, said she will be offering her assistance to Jamaica athletes at the Tokyo, Japan World Athletics Championships in September.
Having competed in Japan and represented Jamaica internationally in the 400 metres, including at the London 2012 Olympics and the Rio de Janeiro Games 2016, as well as the Beijing World Athletics Championship, she plans to use her position as SEA to help the Jamaica athletes who will be camping and competing in Japan.
"(I will) provide local insight - offer valuable advice on navigating the Japanese sports landscape, including training facilities, competition schedules, and cultural nuances, (help with) networking opportunities - facilitate connections between Jamaican athletes, coaches, and Japanese sports organisations, promoting potential partnerships and collaborations (and assist with) mentorship - share my experience and expertise, helping athletes optimise their performance and achieve their goals," the Jamaican 4x400m 2015 World IAAF Championships gold medal relay team member said.
Having many other accolades to her name, including being two-time 4x400m relay Olympic silver medallist, two-time World Athletics Relays 4x400m silver medallist, two-time 4x400m relays Commonwealth Games gold medallist and bronze medallist in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, she says she hopes to use her experience and SEA position to make this year's World Championships memorable for Jamaican athletes.
"(I want to) foster sports development by sharing Jamaican expertise and best practices with Japanese sports organisations, promoting mutual growth and development, (assist with) athlete support - provide guidance and mentorship to Jamaican athletes competing in Japan, particularly during the World Championships in Tokyo, (and foster) cultural exchange - encourage people-to-people diplomacy, promoting understanding and respect between Jamaican and Japanese cultures," the 38-year-old said.
Day is among eight Jamaicans who will participate in the 2025 cohort of the JET programme.
"It was presented to me by someone to sign up and I went for it," she said. "I'm honoured and thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. It's a chance to be a catalyst for change, promoting cultural exchange, sports development, and mutual understanding between Jamaica and Japan."
She said she is looking forward to the experience but mostly "learning the Japanese culture, learn from their sports systems, and share my expertise along with our Jamaican culture".
There are others Jamaicans who will be part of the 2025 JET Programme, and serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs). They are Asmahani-Aza Cooke, Judy Ann Bailey, Mikayl Walker, Danelle Matthews, Amani Cooke, and Leigh Ann Johnson, who are already in Japan.
Day encourages other Jamaicans who would like to be part of the JET Programme and become a SEA to sign up.
"If you're passionate about sports, culture, and community development, I encourage you to seize this opportunity. Be open-minded, willing to learn, and eager to share your expertise. Together we can create a lasting impact, promoting sports excellence and cultural understanding between Jamaica and Japan," said Day, who was the Jamaica national champion over the 400m in 2015. She last competed in 2022.
