Sagicor pumps $4.5m into JTA Champs

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Sagicor Life Jamaica pumped $4.5 million into this year's 28th staging of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA)/Sagicor Primary, All-Age and Junior High Schools Athletics Championships, which will be held from May 12-13 at the National Stadium.

Ingrid Card, group marketing manager, Sagicor, handed over her company's sponsorship cheque to Nadine Molloy-Young, president of the JTA, during a press launch which was held at the JTA's offices on Church Street yesterday.

"JTA and Sagicor Athletics Championships have produced World and Olympic champions and I am confident that many of our youngsters who compete this year, should they aspire to compete at the professional level, will one day make this country and all their supporters extremely proud," said Card.

"This is also a very dear meet to us starting from Blue Cross days and we decided that we are going to continue the support because it is well needed," she explained.

Card added: "At Sagicor we remain resolute in our dedication to Jamaica's children and to the continued success of this track meet."

Molloy-Young lauded the sponsors for their continued support of the Championships and has encouraged the participants to do their best at the meet.

"We thank the sponsors very much for coming on board because this is a year that we are emphasising partnerships, and to have them sponsor the competition to the tune of over $4 million is absolutely wonderful," Molloy-Young said.

"I want the youngsters to come prepared to enjoy the meet, enjoy the competition and to do their best because the opportunity that we are presented with now is to ensure that they can have a vision of what they can become later on in life," she added.

Over 1200 participants are down to compete in this year's Championships from all 14 parishes, with St Andrew being the defending champions.

Besides the title, on offer will be an academic scholarship as well as the honour of being Champion Boy and Champion Girl.

Stephen Brown, coordinator of St Andrew, said his team is ready to defend their title.

"Our chances are good because we have retained some of our athletes who won their events last year, including Odane Watt who won two events last year and so we do have a solid team," Brown said.