Photo Credit: Samsung Mobile
The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia will undoubtedly be full of triumphant moments and inspirational stories taking place. Perhaps one of the most inspiring will be a story that is both new and still familiar to many people out there. It's the story of the Jamaican Bobsled Team and their journey to these Olympics. It is partly an ode to determination and partially a gaze into the possibilities of digital currency and crowdfunding on a global scale.
First, a bit of backstory. I got wind of Team Jamaica's qualification for Sochi in the two-man bobsled via Twitter. It was of great interest to me since both sides of my family call the island nation home. And like many emigrants, we all take great interest in anything Jamaicans do on a world stage since we pride ourselves on excellence and achievement. The news spread like wildfire and brought people back to Cool Runnings, the 1993 Disney movie that was a fictionalized chronicle of Jamaica's first entry into Olympic bobsledding at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Since that first appearance, Jamaica went on to compete in 1994, 1998, and 2002. Winston Watts, a member of the last team from 2002, became the catalyst for Team Jamaica's return when he came out of retirement. Using Watts's home of Evanston, Wyoming as their training base, they focused on a two-man sled instead of the four-man. Watts as pilot partnered with Marvin Dixon, a former sprinter, as brakeman. They managed to compete well enough to earn a place at Sochi without traveling to St. Moritz, Switzerland for the final trials. And it was just as well since they didn't have the funding; since the Jamaica Olympic Association had little to offer in that arena, Watts paid out of his own pocket to get the team to that point. As the news of their qualification spread, Watts took the opportunity to be innovative and use the media as a way to raise funds, beginning with an interview with the New York Times. The next step? Crowdfunding.
Enter Dogecoin.
The story of the 2014 Jamaican Bobsled Team is highly notable because in the process of the team's journey to Sochi, they've managed to help advance the cause of crypto-currency. Dogecoin went from being taken lightly to seeing its value soar because of their efforts through Reddit. They also take away some of the negative stigma about it due to their easier guidelines in converting Dogecoins to flat currency (made easier by establishing ties with a Canadian e-bank last week) as well as being a distraction from Bitcoin's recent run-ins with the law due to their dealings with the illegal online drug market Silk Road. In addition, it gives a bit more heft to the idea that the global community can band together and lend support to noble efforts more more easier with mobile technology. One thing is certain: Team Jamaica has definitely created a better sequel to Cool Runnings than any scriptwriter could possibly attempt. For fans of the team, they hope it comes with a golden ending.