Ten young athletes, who have qualified to represent Dominica in this year’s Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) G ames, now have the opportunity to travel to the Cayman Islands to compete on April 3 to 5, 2010, following a donation of US $10,000 by a telecommunications company.
LIME’s Country Manager Jeffrey Baptiste this morning presented a cheque to the Dominica Amateur Athletics Association (DAAA) to cover the athletics team’s travel expenses to Cayman Islands.
According to Baptiste, Dominica is the only country which LIME provided this monetary assistance to for that purpose. He stated that the company has invested $300,000 in total in this initiative in other sister Caribbean Islands.
“Our initial commitment is a one-year contract signed with the North America and Caribbean Athletics Association to become a major sponsor of the games being held in Cayman Islands from April 3 to 5. Let me assure you that discussions are already on the way to continue this relationship way into the future…This is to develop and promote the 2010 games,” Baptiste said.
He said that the sponsorship package includes a broadcast media deal with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), to allow persons across the region to view the games. He also said that LIME is assisting local athletics associations in each island to get the qualifying athletes to the games.
LIME also will give the team a state-of-the-art handset so they can communicate with locals while at the event.
Meanwhile, President of the DAAA Godwin Dorsette expressed gratitude to the company for the much needed financial boost into making the trip a success for the athletes.
“I have fought for the past years too in looking for sponsorship for athletics, and today I cannot find the words to express the feeling that goes through not only me as the head of athletics in Dominica but all of the members of the athletics Association, the athletes and all of the well wishes of athletics,” Dorsette said.
He praised the sport of athletics for being one which promotes true discipline.
According to him, the CARIFTA team is made up of seven qualifiers, based on the standards of the athletics association and three other athletes, who have been chosen to compete in the Olympic Youth Games in Singapore.
The athletes who will compete at the CARIFTA games are as follows:
Under 17 females: Luan Gabriel- 100,200 meters, Chelsey Linton- Pentathlon, Shanica Yankey- Javelin throw, Tabique Lockhart-400,800 meters
Under 17 males: Damien Frank- Hurdles, 100 meters, Lennon Toussaint- 100 meters
Under 20 males: Andrew Bazil- Javelin, Dilon Simon- Short put/Discus, Simon Lawrence- 400-800 meters
Under 20 females: Kaysanda Alexander 400-800 meters.
The team will be accompanied by sports officials including their manager-Dorsette, Coach Andy Brocard and Chaperone Shirley Francis.
– Staff reporter
big up wooty massive .. all u representing..show them that we are not all bad down in woodfordhill we have good too. we praying for you guys make us proud.(kaysanda, simon, shanica, tabique)
Cudos to Lime for stepping up and supporting Track and Field….The Goverment should also step up to the plat to assist the most functioning and poductive association and athletes on the island.
The world is beginning to discover that Dominica maintains some of the greatest athletes in the world!
Even the common man needs to be in great athletic shape just to walk-about on Dominica soil!
It would be of great value for Dominica to develop the Waitukubuli National Trail into an “ultra-running” event!
Ultra-running is so popular in the U.S. that they can’t accommodate all the runners – Even with entry fees at nearly $1000 US each. Moreover, there are innumerable corporate products & their companies that sponsor these events!
Developing the Waitukubuli National Trail would bring additional prestige and fortune to Dominica
Well done LIME. Godwin I am proud to see your dedication never ceased. My memory of competing and winning medal as a WESMA club member was great. In the very near future you will be receiving my assistance for the upcoming athletic who are taking advantage of the opportunity you are presenting to them.