The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER announcing the first major sponsors for the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Relays, the local organising committee presented the first four of their nine national suppliers.

The list includes the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, which intends to make sure that the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium is properly lit up for the duration of the championships May 24-25, while the Bahamas Waste Limited will provide the necessary apparatus to keep the area clean and pristine.

Also introduced by managing director of the LOC were the Royal Bank of Canada and PharmaChem Technologies from Grand Bahama.

Their names were placed on the sponsorship board in the VIP Lounge of the stadium under the public institution - the Islands of the Bahamas and the first three of six national partners - Atlantic Medical, John Bull and Coca-Cola, distributed by the Caribbean Bottling Company Limited. The public broadcaster is ZNS.

Although they are working on completing the board with the additional sponsors, Haven said the unique thing about the concept that they were provided with by the IAAF that is used for all of their events, no two companies providing the same goods or services will be able to sign on.

Haven said their marketing team, headed by Kathy Davis-Maciel, has been working diligently to secure the sponsorship that is needed and they are happy to have the companies that are already on board to help the LOC meet their financial obligation to put on the two-day meet May 24-25.

Arnette Ingraham, the public relations manager for BEC, said they are excited to partner with the IAAF for the championships, making sure that the stadium is well lit and everything is running properly in a safe environment, not just for the athletes and fans, but all of the media personnel, who will be on hand to provide their coverage around the world.

Desa Campbell, representing Bahamas Waste Limited, said they have been working hand in hand with the National Sports Authority for the past two years providing all of the necessary sanitary items free of charge for events at the national stadium, the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, the National Tennis Centre and the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

She noted that they are once again pleased to have been invited to step up and continue their contribution by providing the necessary equipment for the championships.

And speaking on behalf of the Royal Bank of Canada was Dereck Sturrup who said they are proud to be a part of the sponsorship of the IAAF championship and they look forward to an exciting meet.

There was no representative present for PharmaChem Technologies.

“We are pleased with where we are right now,” Haven said. “Our marketing team has been beating the ground. There are a couple more companies that we have been engaged in in lengthy conversation, but we are just trying to fine tune it to make sure that they are comfortable with what we are offering.”

Any company whose services are not associated with those companies who have already signed up are invited to contact the LOC at the stadium.