Almost like the plot for the movie Cool Runnings, Jamaica's bobsleigh team are trying to fund their participation in the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics.

For the first time in 12 years, the team have qualified for the two-man competition.

But they need to raise $80,000 (€96,000) in order to fund their trip to Russia next month.

They have launched an online fundraising effort, soliciting donations from Internet users, while they have also reached out to well-known Jamaican athletes like Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake...

Reaching out to @usainbolt @officialasafa @Digicel_Jamaica @YohanBlake to support #JamaicaBobsled team crowdfunding http://t.co/f5FItpLRMl

— Team Jamaica (@JamaicaOlympics) January 20, 2014

Thus far, over $18,000 has been raised.

A four-mam bobsleigh team first qualified for the Winter Olympics in 1998, a feat which inspired the hit movie Cool Runnings.