By Ketricia Finch
St. Kitts Reporter
The handing-over ceremony of the corporate sponsors of the 2007 Inter-schools Athletic Championship which comprise the TDC Group of Companies, Cable and Wireless and the St. Kitts Nevis Bottling Company took place on Tuesday afternoon.
Noah Mills, marketing manager of the TDC Group of Companies said the company has a long-term relationship with the St. Kitts Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) and the inter-schools organizing committee and appreciatds the opportunity once again to be part of the corporate sponsorship of the games.
Mills said TDC’s sponsorship is responsible for the beautification of the grounds of the event.
“It would help to preserve the tradition of the culture of athletics in the Federation and would help to secure the future of athletic professionals of some of the very athletes who would be performing this weekend,” Mills said.
Mills, on behalf of the TDC Group of Companies presented a cheque of EC$25,000.00 towards the championship.
“We certainly look forward to continue working with this committee in the future.”
Lavern Caines, Vice President of Marketing Sales for Cable and Wireless said Cable and Wireless came on board for the first time last year to aid with the sponsorship of the games and it was worthwhile.
“It’s not about the publicity, it’s about supporting and underscoring our thrust for the total development of young people,” Caines said.
Caines said the company is very active in sponsoring education programs in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We believe that it is going to take sports activities to arrange good combination because education and sports really go hand-in-glove. We want to lend our full support to the young people who would be participating in the activities over the weekend.”
Caines wished the participants the best of luck.
“We want them to use the events weekend as a platform from which they could recognize university education. You never who would be around to identify them. We stand ready to assist the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Keithley Phillip, Marketing Manager of the St. Kitts-Nevis Bottling Company said it is a joyous opportunity to sponsor the championship once again.
Phillip congratulated the SKNAAA for their efforts of the development of athletic programs within the schools.
“The fact that the staff of the association devotes their time and efforts for the betterment of athletics in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, I join with the St. Kitts Nevis Bottling Company and congratulate them wholeheartedly,” Phillip said.
“We know that unpaid work is very difficult.”
Glen Jeffers, the first vice president of SKNAAA expressed his thanks to the corporate sponsors, Cable and Wireless, the St. Kitts Nevis Bottling Company and TDC.
“Cable and Wireless came forward last year and they have been a great impact in making sure that our youth gets the necessary exposure. They coming on board helped us to generate more funds than our organizational costs,” Jeffers said.
Jeffers said TDC was a corporate sponsor since 1979 and both TDC and Cable and Wireless have been extremely supportive.
“Cable and Wireless has accompanied a number of primary schools in hosting their annual sports day on their grounds.”
“The bottling company along with Aqua Vita introduced something new to us by sponsoring the cheerleading competition on Saturday afternoon and it’s now a big feature in the championship,” Jeffers said.
Jeffers also referred to the progression of the 2008 Carifta Games that the SKNAAA is organizing. He said the Inter-school championship is the foundation for the upcoming event. He said about 26 countries are expected to be participating in the Carifta games.
