Major Lazer’s Boost To The Jamaican Bobsled Team

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 13, 2026: When American electronic dance music and DJ group Major Lazer stepped forward with a $10,000 donation to support the Jamaican bobsled team at the Winter Olympics in Milan, the gesture represented more than financial help. It underscored the enduring bond between Caribbean culture, diaspora success and national pride on the global stage.

FLASHBACK – Diplo performs onstage during the Major Lazer Mixtape Release Party at Coyo Taco on December 04, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images)

The internationally acclaimed music collective – whose roots are deeply intertwined with Jamaican sound system culture – did not just support athletes. They reaffirmed a cultural lineage that continues to propel Jamaica beyond geographic and economic limits.

For a tropical island nation with no natural winter sports infrastructure, Jamaica’s continued presence in Olympic bobsledding has always been a symbol of resilience, ingenuity, and belief. Since the team’s historic debut at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics – later immortalized in the film Cool Runnings – Jamaica’s bobsledders have come to represent the audacity of small nations to compete in spaces never designed for them.

Major Lazer’s donation arrives at a critical moment, as the team prepares to compete once again against countries with far greater funding, facilities, and institutional support.

Walshy Fire, a Chinese-Jamaican member of the group, has long emphasized that Major Lazer’s creative DNA is rooted in Jamaican culture. That connection reflects a broader truth: the Caribbean diaspora has become one of the region’s most powerful global assets.

From music stages to Olympic tracks, diaspora success is increasingly feeding back into national advancement. This act of support highlights an evolving reality – Caribbean athletes and cultural ambassadors are no longer operating in isolation. They are part of a growing ecosystem where diaspora influence, cultural capital, and global visibility converge to create opportunity.

Jamaica’s Mica Moore during the Women’s Monobob Bobsleigh Heat 1 at the Cortina Sliding Centre, on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italy. Picture date: Sunday February 15, 2026. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)

The Jamaican bobsled team’s continued journey at this 2026 Olympics is not simply about medals. It is about visibility, identity, and defying expectations as they get ready for their heats on Feb. 16th in Milan.

And Major Lazer’s contribution sends a clear message: Caribbean excellence does not stand alone. It is powered by a global community that understands its value – and is willing to invest in its future.

ABOUT THE GROUP

Major Lazer maintains a deep, foundational connection to Jamaica, blending dancehall, reggae, and soca with electronic beats. Founded in 2008, the group often collaborates with Jamaican artists, headlines local shows, and has recently added British-Jamaican artist America Foster to its lineup. Their 2025 project, Gyalgebra, continues this Caribbean focus.