Haiti and the Olympics

Did you know… Haitian fencers (Ludovic Valborge, LH Clertmont, Astrel Rolland, Destin Destine, C. Dupre, Eloi Metullus and Ludovic Augustin) won a bronze medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics, becoming the first black nation in the world to win a summer olympic medal. This medal made Haiti the poorest country to win an Olympic medal. Surprisingly they do it on an island where there are few sports facilities. Certainly, the Caribbean team was a “dark horse” in France.

Katherine Dunham and Haiti

Did you know… The island nation of Haiti was the home of Katherine Dunham, one of the most successful dancers of the 20th century. No doubt she loved Haiti. American Katherine Dunham has long been fascinated by Haitian culture and traditions. Her book “Possessed Island” (1969) is a tribute to this Caribbean nation. In 2002, she, born in Glenn Ellyn (Illinois, USA), forced the world to pay attention to Haitian rafters. Today Katherine is a national hero in Haiti.

National symbols

Did you know… Since 1804 Haiti has had four national flags.

World famous Haitians

Did you know… Wyclef Neluset Jean, the face of Haiti abroad, is a world-renowned Haitian musician. He is currently a defender of Haiti in the world.

Haiti & the United States

Did you know… Washington has close ties to Haiti. Since the 1930s, many American leaders have visited Haiti. In this context, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) traveled to Haiti in 1934. Sixty-one years later, Bill Clinton became the second US president to travel to Haiti. President Clinton arrived in Port-au-Prince to consult with Jean-Bertrand Aristide (president of the country). For his part, Colin Powell, Secretary of State, visited the country in 2004. In 2008, Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States, was the Haitian government’s guest of honor. Subsequently, Hillary Clinton, current Secretary of State, accepted an invitation to visit Haiti. In Port-au-Prince, she, who visited the country in 1998, met with senior Haitian officials.

In the mid-1990s, Jimmy Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former US president, played a key role in ending military rule in Haiti.

Population

Did you know… Five decades ago, Haitians could expect to live 39 years. Today they can wait 60.

power of women

Did you know… In Haiti, women have been allowed to vote since 1950: women make up the majority of the population. In recent decades, this Caribbean nation has had two female leaders. In 1991, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, one of the world’s shortest-serving female presidents, became the first black female president in the Western Hemisphere. Four years later, Claudette Werleigh was appointed Head of Government by Haiti’s Head of State, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. On the other hand, Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, was born on the island of Haiti. She has lived in Canada since 1968. In 2006, Michaelle moved to Port-au-Prince.

Geography

Did you know… Haiti is about the size of Maryland. This country has been described as the “Pearl of the Caribbean”.

Africa and Haiti

Did you know… In 1967 Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, the last emperor of Africa, arrived in Haiti for an official visit. During his visit to the world’s first black nation, Selassie met with Francois Duvalier, Haiti’s president for life.

History

Did you know… At the beginning of the 19th century, Haiti became the first black republic on the planet. Before Haiti became a state, it had been a French colony.

Haiti and the FIFA World Cup

Did you know… In 1974, Haiti lived up to its reputation as one of the best teams in the Caribbean by winning the Concacaf Cup. Haiti became the first Caribbean soccer team to win the Concacaf title, breaking a strong 30-year dominance by Mexico. During that regional tournament, Haiti also qualified for the world championships in Munich, West Germany. The country had never before qualified for a major soccer tournament. This international title gave Haiti a moment of joy and glory. In Europe, Haiti and Zaire, today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Africa), were the first black republics to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in the 20th century.

Haiti and Miss Universe pageant

Did you know… Haitian contestant Gerthie David, who speaks French and English, came close to winning the Miss Universe pageant in San Salvador (El Salvador, Central America) in the mid-1970s. Surprisingly, Gerthie, who was the third representative of the country, she became the second black woman to qualify for the MU final. Haitian Gerthie David was apparently supported by two international judges: Sarah Vaughan (a Grammy-winning American singer) and Jean-Claude Killy (former Olympic champion and current Olympic leader). According to a newspaper in San Salvador, Miss Haiti was one of the 11 favorites to win the world title. She had surprised and delighted many at this international beauty pageant. On the other hand, in 1977, for the first time, Haiti felt a non-black woman compete in the MU in the Dominican Republic.

Culture

Did you know… Haiti participated in the 1967 Montreal World Exposition in Canada, along with 70 nations. He also sent a national delegation to the African Festival in Dakar (Senegal) in the 1960s.