TOKYO - A kind deed by a Tokyo Olympic staffer has earned her an invitation to visit Jamaica.
Tijana Kawashima Stojkovic had helped gold medalist Hansle Parchment arrive at his venue in time for his race when he had inadvertently gone to the wrong venue and Stojkovic had given him money to take a taxi to the correct venue since he did not have any cash with him.
On Thursday the Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett thanked Stojkovic for assisting the Olympian arrive at the National Stadium in time for the semifinals of the men's 110-meter hurdles on August 4.
Parchment won gold the following day, and posted an Instagram video of himself finding Stojkovic and showing her his medal. The video has gone viral with over 1.38 million views, and has made headlines in Japan and abroad.
"Indeed in a world that is often unabated by negatives, it is always refreshing when we experience random acts of kindness," said the tourism minister.
"I salute you, Ms. Kawashima, because you'll forever be etched in the hallowed halls of Jamaica's athletic history because you helped the outcome which led to a gold medal," Bartlett said.
"I just did what I can do," Stojkovic said, adding she was overwhelmed with emotion after watching a new video message from the athlete thanking her again.
In the Instagram video, Parchment said Stojkovic, who was working at the venue, offered him money to take a taxi, and he even had enough time to warm up before his semifinal race.
"You were instrumental in me getting to the final that day," Parchment told Stojkovic in the Instagram video when he visited her at the venue later and returned the money.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness is among the many who shared the video on social media. "Every Jamaican knows that gratitude is a must," he wrote. - Agencies. August 21, 2021
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