KINGSTON, Jamaica – As part of its longstanding commitment to investing in and preserving athletics in Jamaica, Digicel has partnered with the MVP Track & Field Club to conduct a series of island-wide Athletics Training Camps for student athletes in all 14 parishes across Jamaica to introduce them to world class training methods.
Titled the Digicel/MVP Grassroots Athletics Programme, thisexciting new programme will see MVP coaches helping student athletes to develop fundamentals in five main areas of track and field athletics – hurdles, throws, jumps, middle distance and sprints (including relays).
Three clinics have so far being held in Vere, Clarendon; Morant Bay, St. Thomas and Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth from November 23 to December 7, 2013, with each clinic hosting over 100 student athletes and their coaches.
The next two clinics will be held on January 10 in Montego and on January 17 in Kingston where a top athlete will be selected to receive a four-year scholarship to the University of Technology, Jamaica to the tune of J$1,000,000,where they will continue their education as well as training among some of the best athletes in the world.
In speaking about the initiative, Digicel’s Marketing Director, Peter Lloyd said, “Digicel is particularly pleased about this partnership as it adds to our existing grassroots sports portfolio which also includes football and cricket as we continue our work together to help develop and preserve sports at all levels in Jamaica”.
Coach Stephen Francis of the MVP Track & Field Club added that, “this programme is an important way to further strengthen the development of Jamaica's track and field infrastructure.” For his part, Bruce James, President of the MVP Track & Field Club emphasized that this form of giving back to Jamaica is what the MVP Track & Field Club is about as the student-athletes form the core of the future of Jamaica's athletic success.
The programme is also being supported by other partners including Powerade/WATA as the official hydration partner, Jamaica Broilers through their Best Dressed Chicken and Reggae Jammin brands as the official nutrition partner, National Commercial Bank through its OMNI Educator product, as well as Nike which is the official apparel partner.
Peter Lloyd closed by saying, “There is a wealth of track and field talent here in Jamaica just waiting to be discovered and that’s what this grassroots athletic programme is all about – to unearth these young talent while helping to develop them into becoming world class athletes like our ambassadors Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Usain Bolt. As a brand that is committed to youth development through sports, we are therefore very excited about what lies ahead for this programme and these students.”
Digicel MVP Grassroots Athletics Programme Overview – Bruce James
Digicel MVP Grassroots Athletics Programme – Tahnida Nunes
Digicel MVP Grassroots Athletics Programme – Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce
Digicel MVP Grassroots Athletics Programme – Paul Francis
