The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT'S every athlete's dream to compete in the Olympic Games. And just about every sporting fan would like to have an opportunity to be in the stands cheering for their country and favourite athlete.

That dream will become a reality for Arthur Gibson and Angelica Sturrup, who were both afforded an all-expenses paid trip for two to travel to the 2012 London Olympics next month.

According to Leah Davis, Scotiabank's senior marketing and public relations manager, the visa card promotions started in March and all the recipients had to do was use their cards before the deadline at the end of May.

Both will receive packages valued at $20,000, inclusive of their round-trip airfare, accommodations, tickets into the games, meals and spending money.

"I'm just excited that we have had the opportunity to give something back to our customers," said Davis, after introducing the two winners during the BAAA Scotiabank National Open Track and Field Championships at Thomas A Robinson stadium over the weekend.

"All these are credit card holders, but all they had to do was make a purchase and they were eligible to win."

While the Olympics was this year's grand prize, Davis noted that two years ago they issued trips to the World Cup finals and last year, they presented cruises.

"We're proud to give something back to our customers," she stated.

Gibson, an avid track and field fan, was ecstatic when he got the call.

"It's just unbelievable. I honestly couldn't believe it. It took a while for it to sink in," said Gibson, who only remembered signing up for the card when he saw the promotion.

"It's something that I always wanted to do, something I dreamt that I never could do and now it's all possible. I just really don't know what to say."

The proof is in the pudding so to speak as he continues to keep his traveling bag packed from one trip to the next.

"I just recently went to Carifta in Bermuda, I'm going to a track and field meet in El Salvador (Junior Central American and Caribbean Championships) at the end of this month," he said. "So the Olympics is just the cap of it. I'm just so thrilled to be able to go to such a grand event."

The only problem that Gibson feels he will encounter is who exactly to take as he feels there are "so many choices" to choose from.

"I wish I could take myself twice," he said. "But I'm sure I will pick the right person to go with me."

For, Sturrup, she was shocked when she got the call that she had won. "It was really exciting because it's such a great event," she said. "We have had so many great experiences at the Olympics and now I'm getting an opportunity to go there and cheer on our athletes, it's going to be a lifetime experience for me."

The first thing that Sturrup noted she has to do is to get her flag. "It's going to be an honour to be in the stands and cheer on our athletes. I'm really looking forward to it," she said. "To watch the athletes now before they go to London is great for me because I will know who to look out for when I get there."

And now for the million dollar question: Who are you going to take with you?

"To be honest, I'm going to take my mom," Sturrup said.