Thousands of Jamaicans fill the National Stadium in Kingston on Monday.<br/> <br />They're here to mark the island nation's 50th year of independence from Great Britain.<br/> <br />Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller kicks off the festivities, attended by special guests including South African President Jacob Zuma.<br/> <br />And representing the United States is former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, himself the son of Jamaican immigrants.<br/> <br />The celebrations come amid the successes of Jamaican athletes at the Olympic Games in London - the very city where Jamaican officials inked a deal for independence, which began on August 6, 1962.<br/> <br />Already the Jamaican anthem has played twice in celebration of golden runs by 100-metre world record holder Usain Bolt and 100-metre winner Shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce.
