Julien Alfred’s homecoming celebrations begin in Saint Lucia

Today, September 24, 2024, marks the start of Saint Lucia’s celebrations to felicitate Julien Alfred, the nation’s Olympic and World Champion sprinter.

The week-long activity precedes a new public holiday dubbed Julien Alfred Day, which will be on September 27 to commemorate her historic performances at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and onward.

Alfred, who won gold in the women’s 100-metre final and silver in the 200-metre final, has written her name into Olympic history, making her a trailblazer not only for Saint Lucia but for the entire Caribbean region.

This inspires athletes from small island nations to add their names to competing on the world stage. Alfred further solidified her position amongst the world’s best sprinters as she also fetched a gold medal for the 60-meter competition at the 2024 World Indoor Athletics Championships.

The processional to the celebrations is today with Alfred’s touchdown at Hewanorra International Airport at 3:30 pm. She will be escorted in a motorcade from Vieux-Fort to Gros Islet, where she will be greeted by an enthusiasm-filled Saint Lucian mass on the streets with demonstrate and showcase of admiration towards her.

According to the latest report, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) announced the closing of vehicle movement from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the main access road leading towards Hewanorra International Airport, so it would divert traffic through the Free Zone Road near South Shore.

The next couple of days will be filled with a series of activities celebrating Alfred’s outstanding achievements. Tomorrow, September 25, student rallies are to be held in the morning at Soufriere Mini Stadium and in the afternoon at the La Resource Playing Field Dennery.

In these rallies, the young people of Saint Lucia will be galvanized by their national hero in and out of her journey to success.

On September 26, Alfred will visit her alma mater Ciceron Primary School, where she will have a mural unveiled in celebration of her achievements. The venue will hold the function at 11:00 AM as tribute to her roots.

Celebrations will culminate on September 27 with a major national concert at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground at 4:00 PM. The event will officially establish Julien Alfred Day, a fitting tribute to an athlete who made her country proud on the world stage.

The island nation calls out to all citizens to take part in these celebrations and celebratory events marking the legacy and continued success of the beloved champion, Julien Alfred.