Jamaica thanked an Olympic volunteer who helped one of its stars win gold by paying his cab fare when he got lost by gifting her an all-expenses-paid trip to the island
- A staff member at the Tokyo Olympics has been offered a luxury tour of Jamaica after helping an athlete win gold.
- Tijana Kawashima Stojkovic paid Hansle Parchment's taxi fare when he got the bus to the wrong place.
- Parchment eventually won 110m hurdle gold, and Kawashima Stojkovic is being lavishly rewarded for her kindness.
A Tokyo Olympics staff member who helped a Jamaican athlete get to the stadium has been gifted a luxurious tour of the island to say thank you for her kindness.
Tijana Kawashima Stojkovic paid the taxi fare of Hansle Parchment who, in an Instagram post, said he took the wrong bus from the Olympic village and faced a nine kilometer journey back to the stadium.
The 31-year-old also said he had been listening to music at the time and did not realize his mistake.
Parchment was at risk of missing the semi-finals of the men's 110-meter hurdles but, thanks to Kawashima's help, he was able to compete. He cruised through his semi and ended up winning gold.
After tracking her down, Parchment shared Kawashima's act of kindness with his followers, and the pair subsequently went viral.
As a way of saying thanks, Kawashima was invited to the Jamaican embassy in Tokyo, where she was then invited on an all expenses-paid trip to the island as a thank you for her good deed.
The tourism ministry tweeted that Kawashima would be staying at luxury hotels during her time on the island.
"Tijana and a guest of her choice will be treated to an all-expense-paid trip which will include luxurious and cultural experiences across the island," the Jamaican tourism ministry tweeted.
"They will enjoy an experience that spans four parishes and five hotels, including the Royalton's Diamond Club butler service presidential suite in Negril, stunning vistas and exceptional service at the Half Moon and Iberostar hotels in Montego Bay, as well as the Moon Palace in Ocho Rios and the AC Marriott hotel in Kingston."
Rooms at the Half Moon in Montego Bay cost around $500 per night, while the Iberostar is around $250 for a double. The Moon Palace is roughly $300, while the Kingston Marriott is a bargain at $200 per night.
Kawashima's real treat will come when she stays in the presidential suit at the Diamond Club, which is priced at around $700 per night, and includes a private butler.
The tourism minister of Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett, thanked Kawashima and said she would be forever "etched in the hallowed halls of Jamaica's athletic history."
"Indeed in a world that is often unabated by negatives, it is always refreshing when we experience random acts of kindness."
"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 as reported by Kyodo News.
The Jamaican ambassador to Japan, Shorna-Kay Richards, tweeted it was an "absolute pleasure" to host Kawashima.
"It was an absolute pleasure to host today's ceremony to honour Tijana Kawashima Stojkovic, the Tokyo Olympics staff whose act of kindness toward Hansle Parchment has inspired Jamaica and the world.
"Thanks to the Ministry Of Tourism Jamaica for ensuring that Tijana's golden deed received an equally golden reward."
It is unclear if Kawashima has accepted the offer of the trip.