The Caribbean’s fastest growing mobile telecommunications service provider Digicel, announced their continuing support for The St. Kitts and Nevis Special Olympics Committee and will contribute $40,000 to the organization for the period 2007/08. The $40,000 grant will go towards, among other things, ensuring the participation of the special Olympians in the Special Olympic Games to be held in Shanghai China during the month of October.
“We are extremely pleased to once again have Digicel involved in our program for the second consecutive year,” said Special Olympics Chairman Mr Lloyd Lazar. “We recognize that Digicel shares a vision of serving the communities where they live and work, and particularly the persons with special needs in those communities. We therefore thank them for this generous and sustainable contribution to both the St. Kitts and Nevis Special Olympics programs. As a result, athletes in the entire Federation will benefit greatly.”
“We know that Special Olympics play an important role in improving the lives of many persons in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Donovan White, Digicel’s Country Manager. “We are excited about our involvement, which is more than just a token, but an unswerving commitment to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and to the Special Olympics Committee.” White also gave the commitment of the participation of the Digicel staff further fund raising activities of the Committee.
This will be the second time that Digicel will assist Special Olympians in the region to participate in the Special Olympics. At the last games held in Ireland, Digicel assembled all of the athletes from the Caribbean and provided sponsorship for their attendance. At those games, Digicel’s Chairman and major shareholder, Mr. Denis O’Brien was chairman of the Games and ensured that Special Olympians across the region were given an opportunity to attend.
National Director of Special Olympics Mrs. Claris Cotton, shared how during the Ireland games Chairman O’Brien revealed that it was while on holiday on the island of Nevis a fund raising volunteer introduced him to Special Olympics and how the signing represents a fulfillment of Mr. O’Brien’s promise to support Special Olympics in the Federation.
“I am pleased we have reached this point in signing this contract today,” Mrs. Cotton said. She also pointed to the fact that participation in the Special Olympics makes the participant ‘more self confident’ and that they come back ‘eager to go out and find work and participate more in the community.’
Special Olympics provide year-round sports programs for children, and adults with disabilities. Athletes first train and compete at the local area level and then advance to regional competition and then to their dream – participation at Special Olympics.
“We will ensure that the athletes from St. Kitts/Nevis are given everything they need as far as possible to proudly represent us as a nation. Let us encourage them to do their best and make us all proud,” said country Manager, Donovan White.
