… Record number of athletes set to participate this year

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Digicel yesterday handed over its sponsorship package for its continued support of the upcoming Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VII, at which a record number of athletes are set to participate, including some of Guyana’s Olympians who participated at this year’s Rio Olympics. Communications manager of Digicel, Vidya Sanichara, yesterday, handed over the donation to chairman of the Boyce and Jefford Committee, Colin Boyce, at a ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Barrack Street, Kingston. Also present at the head table at the ceremony were Digicel’s Events and Sponsorship executive Louanna Abrams, and Boyce and Jefford co-chairman, Edison Jefford.
Speaking on behalf of Digicel, Abrams commended the organisers for making the event a continued success, and providing an avenue for sports and youth to be developed. Digicel is one of the sponsors who have been with the event since it first began back in 2010.
“We would like to thank the organisers for once again having Digicel on board to sponsor this event, which is central to our company’s mandate of youth and community development and we try to do that through sport. We’ve done a lot of work in the community of Linden, and we will continue to give our support to this tournament and to Linden. We are pleased to be the sole telecommunications sponsor of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic,” Abrams expressed.
In his remarks, Boyce thanked Digicel for its continued support, and for believing in the event from the start. He also took the opportunity to update on how preparations are going for the August 27-28 event.
According to Boyce, a record number of 178 athletes are scheduled to take part in the international event which also includes the participation of athletes from the Caribbean and USA. Locally five clubs are registered to vie for the $1M top prize that will be up for grabs. The clubs are the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Police Progressive Youth Club, Super Upcoming Runners, Mercury Fast Laners, and the Linden Combined Team.
Olympian Winston George, who recently represented Guyana in the men’s 400m, is expected to be on show, while arrangements are still being worked out at the possibility of having fellow Olympians Brenessa Thompson and Aaliyah Abrams perform at the event.
A number of Olympians from the visiting countries are also expected to participate.
Approximately $2.9M in cash will be up for grabs, which includes the prize money for the eighth individual international event, and the male and female media races.