The long-awaited return of the Jamaican four-man bobsleigh team to the Winter Olympics is being jeopardised by a delay in the team receiving their official accreditation.   

The team’s Olympic passes were shipped to Jamaica while they were training in Europe and have now been sent by FedEx to the UK.

However, after arriving at Stansted airport last Friday, the crucial documents have still not been released for delivery which is jeopardising the team’s chances of making their flights to Beijing from London’s Heathrow airport this Friday.

Pilot Shanwayne Stephens told Sky News: “It’s a shame that something so simple could put four years of hard work in jeopardy.

Read more: Jamaica’s bobsleigh heroes want medals and aren’t heading to the games just to make up the numbers

He added: “We would be heartbroken if we missed our flight. We would really appreciate it if the accreditation could be delivered in the coming days.”

Read more on the Winter Olympics: Lizzy Yarnold’s five Team GB medal hopes to watch in Beijing

Climate change: Future of Winter Olympics and snow sports on thin ice, report warns

Beijing Winter Olympics: Jamaica’s bobsleigh heroes want medals and aren’t heading to the games just to make up the numbers

Beijing Winter Olympics: Athletes could pay a heavy price for speaking out

The Jamaican quartet is made up of Stephens, Ashley Watson, Matthew Wekpe and Nimroy Turgott.

While fully committed to pursuing their Olympic dream, they do not have the kind of funding enjoyed by most of their rivals – they told Sky News they simply can’t afford to miss their flights which have cost approximately £20,000.

Accreditation more vital than usual

The strict COVID-19 protocols around the Winter Olympics mean that accreditation passes are even more vital than usual.

Performance director Mark Silva, who is trying desperately to get the accreditations released, told Sky News: “I’ve been chasing this for days now, all FedEx will tell me is that they have escalated the request.

“We can’t sort out the visas properly until we have the accreditations and this is properly stressful – the whole Olympic dream depends on us making that flight on Friday.”

It’s 24 years since Jamaica had a four-man bobsleigh team at the Winter Games – the very first team they entered in 1988 inspired the hit film Cool Runnings.

The 2022 team have been finalising their preparations this week on a practice track at Bath University while they wait for their accreditations.

FedEx and London Stansted airport have been approached for comment.

Read more about the Winter Olympics:

Former DJ Benjamin Alexander to become first skier to represent Jamaica at Winter Olympics

China warns UK, US and Australia will pay the price for diplomatic boycott of Beijing Games

Beijing Winter Olympics: Athletes could pay a heavy price for speaking out

Related posts:

Myanmar court files fresh charge against Aung San Suu Kyi after 18 killed in protests Former French president Sarkozy to appeal guilty verdict in corruption trial ‘Repentant bandits’ key to release of 279 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls Russia hit with sanctions over attempted murder and jailing of Alexei Navalny Australia hits back at ‘flawed’ decision to put Great Barrier Reef on ‘in danger’ list Greek pilot accused of murdering British wife arrives at court with armed police escort COVID pass now needed for Eiffel Tower and other tourist hotspots in France US and Germany agree Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal and vow to counter Russian ‘aggression’ Terrorist Anders Breivik still ‘very dangerous’ after 10 years in jail and should not be freed on parole, court told ‘Real life Aquaman’: Tongan man swims for 27 hours to safety after tsunami swept him out to sea El Chapo’s wife is not actually his wife, new book claims Ireland scraps almost all COVID restrictions