ALTHOUGH not officially opening its doors in the United Kingdom until August 3 for 10 days, there’s much anticipation that Jamaica House, described in Saturday’s Guardian newspaper as “the small island with the big Olympic reputation”, will be one of the nations vying to win hospitality gold.

Jamaica is listed alongside Africa Village, 53 nations of the continent competing in London; France, which has transformed the Old Billingsgate Market into Club France, hosting the largest, although temporary French restaurant in London; Brasil House at Somerset House on the Thames will be taken over by Casa Brasil offering free entertainment every evening in the impressive courtyard.

The Swiss have lavished a reported £3 million on their Olympic zone, the 3,000 square metre House of Switzerland in Glaziers Hall facing the river near London Bridge; the Czech Republic will spice up the evenings with David Cerny’s ‘London booster’, a full-size red London bus with robotic arms that perform push ups; Germany has anchored the luxury German cruise ship, the Deutschland in Canary Wharf for its athletes and VIPs only, but the Deutsches Haus at the Museum of London in Docklands will have a fun fest area with big screens, live music and food and drink.

Jamaica House will host what it claims to be the most impressive Games house inside The Bubble at the O2. Visitors can experience the island’s history, food, drink, and music. The venue will act as a hub to watch the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, and Jamaica’s other world-class athletes.

With the eyes of the world on us, and in particular those in the United Kingdom where even the Brits will be cheering for Jamaica, we cannot afford to fail!