You know the story: a tiny Caribbean island, a borrowed sled, and a lane in Olympic history that inspired Cool Runnings and the world.
Almost 40 years later, we’re still that team, a small island program defying gravity, limited resources, and expectations. But right now, we’re at a crossroads: without real support, Jamaica’s bobsleigh program risks being priced out of the Games before we reach the start line in Milan–Cortina 2026.
We’re raising $700,000 to keep Jamaica’s premier Winter Olympic program alive and on track for the next Games.
Why This Fundraiser (and Why North Country Sports Council)?
Unlike many big-name Olympic programs, Jamaica’s national bobsleigh program is not government-funded. Athletes rely on sponsorships and donations routed through the federation just to train, travel, and compete.
This campaign is organized by North Country Sports Council (NCSC), a U.S.-based nonprofit that partners with the Jamaica Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation to support our Olympic journey.
NCSC collects donations in U.S. dollars and then uses those funds to pay verified team expenses, like travel, equipment, race fees, and training costs, or transfers them directly to the federation for approved budget items.
In short: every dollar raised here is dedicated to Jamaica’s sliding program, with NCSC handling the paperwork so we can focus on pushing sleds, not chasing invoices.
Why We Need Your Help
Bobsleigh is one of the most expensive sports on earth.
A competitive sled alone can cost $75,000–$150,000, and we need three just to run a full program.
On top of that, there’s specialized gear, spiked shoes, custom helmets and suits, and constant international travel just to find ice, because there is no bobsleigh track in Jamaica.
Even in wealthier countries, sliding athletes often spend tens of thousands of dollars per year on travel, lodging, equipment, sled shipping, and coaching. Many still end up crowdfunding just to reach World Championships or Olympic qualifiers.
Now imagine doing all of that from a small tropical nation with no home track.
That’s the gap this campaign is trying to close.
Where Your Donation Goes
Our total goal of $700,000 bridges the funding gap for our Olympic qualification and preparation, covering both this crucial season and the road into Milan–Cortina 2026.
To keep things simple, the numbers below are rounded, multi-year estimates for the full push to 2026:
Travel & Lodging for World Cups, qualifiers, and training camps – $260,000
Flights for athletes and support staff, accommodation near remote tracks, van rentals, ground transport, and baggage fees for oversized, overweight sleds and equipment. Sliding is a traveling circus, every race week is another set of plane tickets and hotel bills.
Sleds, Runners & Maintenance – $260,000
An Olympic-caliber sled can cost $75,000 to $150,000, and we need three to run a full program across multiple disciplines and back-up setups. Runner sets can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and each sled needs multiple sets for different ice conditions. This line also covers ongoing tuning, repairs, and safety checks to keep the sleds truly competitive.
Ice Time & Training Access – $80,000
Track fees, scheduled training runs, and off-season training opportunities on foreign tracks. In sliding sports, every hour and every run on ice has a price tag, and without that time on the track, even the best sleds and athletes can’t compete.
Coaching, Medical & Performance Support – $60,000
Coaching stipends, strength and conditioning, physio, and basic healthcare, things many athletes at this level still patch together on their own. This helps make sure the team isn’t just showing up, but arriving healthy, prepared, and ready to race.
Administration, Visas & Competition Fees – $40,000
Entry fees, federation logistics, international visas, insurance, mandatory licenses, and the paperwork no one thinks about, but without which we simply cannot race.
Every number above represents a very real invoice our athletes and federation have to find a way to pay.
If the average gift is around $75–$80 USD, then 8,750 people stepping up together would fully fund this campaign. That’s a global village of fans making sure Jamaica is on the start line when the world is watching.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s a survival moment for Jamaica’s sliding program.
Without this funding, we will likely have to:
- Skip key races and qualification events
- Cut back training time on ice when we need it most
- Put the long-term future of Jamaica’s bobsleigh program at risk
With it, we can:
- Run a full qualifying schedule, giving our teams a fair shot at Milan–Cortina 2026
- Train on the same tracks as the world’s best, with safe equipment and proper support
- Keep the doors open for the next generation of Jamaican athletes who dream of pushing a sled onto Olympic ice
More Than Nostalgia: The Legacy You’re Protecting
The world fell in love with this team because of heart, courage, and a belief that the impossible could be done. That story didn’t end in 1988.
Every time a Jamaican sled drops into a World Cup track, there’s a kid somewhere, maybe in Kingston, maybe in Saranac Lake, watching and thinking:
“If they can do that, maybe I can do my impossible thing, too.”
This campaign is about protecting that legacy in real life, not just on a movie screen.
Our Promise to You: Transparency & Stories From the Ice
We know trust is everything, especially with a big goal.
On this page, we will:
- Share a clear budget overview so you can see how funds are being used
- Post weekly updates during the campaign, including:
- An Athlete of the Week spotlight with their story and why they slide
- Training and competition updates so you can follow our progress
- Milestones like “we funded a full race weekend,” “we bought a new set of runners,” or “we locked in a training camp”
Think of this page as our digital locker room, where you get to see the work, the grind, and the joy behind every run.
How You Can Help
Make a donation
- Any amount truly helps. In a sport where an hour of ice or a single checked sled can cost hundreds of dollars, even small gifts move the needle.
Share this campaign
- Share the link with friends, family, co-workers, sports fans, and anyone who loved Cool Runnings or believes the Olympics should be about heart, not just budgets.
Champion us in your community
- If you’re connected to a business, club, school, or community group that might sponsor or match donations, we’d love an introduction.
From all of us who have pushed a sled in Jamaica’s colors—and from everyone who dreams of doing it next:
Thank you for helping keep this dream on ice,
and for making sure the next chapter of Jamaican bobsleigh is written by the people who care most: you.
Organizer
North Country Sports Commission Inc
Beneficiary