Grace Kennedy Limited is now the new title sponsor of the annual Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships, popularly known as “Champs”.  Sponsorship of the programme, which is conducted by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), will initially be for a period not exceeding three years.  The Championships will take place at the National Stadium in Kingston from March 28-31.

In pledging the company’s support for the premier boys’ and girls’ athletic championship, Douglas Orane, Chairman & CEO of GraceKennedy Limited said: "We at GraceKennedy Limited take pride in our track record of promoting national programmes and initiatives that have a positive impact on the lives of  Jamaican  people.

“As a local company we feel it is important to support sporting events being staged to promote fair play, discipline and a drive for excellence.  Champs also has international significance as it is the foundation from which our future athletic stars emerge.”  Mr. Orane added. 

He noted that the event would be called the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championship.  The entire GraceKennedy group of companies will come together to support the Championships, he disclosed.

The event, which is the biggest school boy and girl athletics Championships in the Caribbean is expected to attract over 50,000 spectators over the four day duration.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  Douglas Orane (left),  in conversation with  Gabrielle Sang, Marketing Manager, Grace Foods and Services Company, and Howard Aris, President, Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA). The occasion was a press conference held at GraceKennedy’s Harbour Street offices on January 4, 2007,  to announce its title sponsorship of  the annual Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championship “Champs”, one of the stellar athletic events on Jamaica’s calendar, co-ordinated by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA).  GraceKennedy’s commitment will be for three years, initially at a cost of  US$200,000 or J$ 13.4 million per year.

Posted: Janauary 4, 2007