Category: Sports

Digicel’s support for Special Olympics transforms lives

With a grand vision of creating a society where no one is left behind, Digicel has made substantial commitments to fostering inclusivity through its unwavering support of the Special Olympics national organisations across the region.

For years, Digicel has stood as a dedicated sponsor of the Special Olympics, recognising the transformative power of sports in transcending barriers and empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities. Their ongoing sponsorship has paved the way for countless special needs athletes to showcase their talents and dreams on the international stage.

This year, Digicel’s philanthropic arm, the Digicel Foundation, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment by donating a generous sum of US$40,000 (J$6.2 million) to support the Special Olympics Jamaica team at the prestigious Special Olympics World Games, now underway in Berlin, Germany. As the international spotlight shines on these exceptional athletes, the digital operator stands as a pillar of support, enabling them to realise their dreams and aspirations.

Digicel’s transformative impact is not confined to the realm of sports alone. Since its establishment in 2004, the Digicel Foundation has sponsored an array of projects dedicated to youth development, skills training, agriculture, and social enterprise.

They have been a driving force behind empowering people with intellectual disabilities, investing a staggering $US10.9 million in special needs initiatives in Jamaica.

The company championed a range of projects since the inception of the Foundation, including the distribution of 1413 tablets to individuals with special needs and the construction or renovation of 20 special needs schools.

To gain further insight into Digicel’s expansive activities and initiatives supporting the Special Olympics and beyond, we encourage you to watch the video featuring Charmaine Daniels, CEO of Digicel Foundation Jamaica. In this captivating interview, she sheds light on the myriad endeavors undertaken by Digicel, truly exemplifying their commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowerment.

Source: Loop Jamaica | Digicel’s support for Special Olympics transforms lives

Adam Zampa replaces Afridi at Jamaica Tallawahs

Shahid Afridi has withdrawn from the Jamaica Tallawahs team for this season’s Hero CPL tournament with Jefferson Miller, CEO of the Tallawahs, confirming the veteran Pakistan allrounder is injured and has been ordered by doctors to take an extended break from cricket.

Shahid Afridi
Source: The Express Tribune

Afridi has been replaced by Australian Adam Zampa, a leg-spinner who plays for South Australia. Zampa has also played at T20 level for his country, picking up 17 wickets in 13 matches. He has experience playing in the Hero CPL, having represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2016.

adam-zampa-getty-800
Source: Getty Images

Zampa has also played in the Indian Premier League for Rising Pune Supergiant and in the Australian Big Bash for Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars.

The Jamaica Tallawahs are going for their third T20 title. Their ranks this season includes all-rounder and captain Andre Russell, leg-spinner Samuel Badree, fast bowler Kemar Roach, and batsmen Andre McCarthy, Ross Taylor and David Miller.

They open their campaign on August 10 versus defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad. Their first home match is against St Lucia Stars at Sabina Park four days later.

The Tallawahs also play Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Tridents in the tournament’s South Florida leg from August 18-22 at Central Broward Regional Stadium.

ABOUT THE HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE:

First started in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Combining broadcast and digital viewership over 197 million fans watched the 2017 season to make it one of the fastest growing leagues in world cricket. Trinbago Knight Riders are the current Hero CPL champions and the other competing teams are Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Stars and Jamaica Tallawahs. This year’s tournament takes place 8 August to 16 September 2018. For further information visit http://www.cplt20.com.

SPORTSMAX & DIGICEL ACQUIRE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RIGHTS

 

SportsMax and Digicel announced today that they have secured broadcast rights for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Russia, for 22 countries, through an agreement signed with DIRECTV.

Following the successful carriage of the FIFA World Cup™ in 2006, 2010 & 2014 as well as the upcoming exclusive coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics, SportsMax and Digicel have acquired the English and Spanish language media rights for all 64 matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ running from June 14 to July 15. The action from Russia will be broadcast throughout the region on a combination of free-to-air TV, broadband, pay TV, radio and significantly, streaming via mobile.

In addition to the FIFA World Cup™ being broadcast on free-to-air TV (in select countries) to reach the widest possible Caribbean audience and via Digicel, SportsMax will have a dedicated FIFA World Cup™ channel available online with over 700 hours of live programming and analysis so that fans in the broadcast territories can enjoy the action in Russia, on various platforms, whenever they want.

“It’s an exciting time for SportsMax as we countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Our partnership with DIRECTV has allowed us to take the game of football to the people who love it most, whether they are at home watching TV, in the car listening to the radio, or on the go with their smartphones and mobile devices via PlayGo. Broadcast rights vary in each of the countries, but altogether include free-to-air, broadband, pay-tv, radio and mobile platforms, offering more people more options to support their team”, said Olly McIntosh, CEO of IMC and SportsMax.

In the weeks counting down to the games, SportsMax and Digicel will be unveiling special offers for customers to access the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. The Digicel countries that will benefit and are included in the rights agreement are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos; while the SportsMax countries include the above mentioned as well as The Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands.

SportsMax_Flat_Colour

SportsMax is the leader in the Caribbean for world-class sporting events, having acquired rights and previously brought to viewers the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World CupTM; 2009 & 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup; multiple FIFA Youth World Cups; Copa Americas; the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics; as well as the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeonchang 2018.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ will be the 21st staging of the event, slated for 12 venues and featuring 32 powerhouses in football including defending champions Germany and other tournament favourites Brazil, Spain, France, Argentina, Belgium and Portugal.

A call for Private Sector Support for Persons with Disabilities in Sports and Culture

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Jennifer McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, PSOJ; presenting at The UWI Mona Regional Disabilities Studies Conference on March 12, 2018.

 

The UWI Centre for Disability Studies (UWICDS) held its Regional Disability Studies Conference on Wednesday March
7, 2018. The theme for this conference is “Enhancing the Disability Agenda through
Sports and Culture in the Caribbean.” The CEO of the PSOJ, Ms. Jennifer
McDonald, made a presentation at the Centre for Disability Studies regional
conference: “The importance of public-private partnership in the advocacy,
implementation and advancement of the lives of persons with disabilities in sports
and culture.”

McDonald informed the audience that addressing matters related to Disabilities is
one of PSOJ’s 4 core focus for 2018, which falls under Vulnerable Groups and
Gender Affairs. Other areas for advocacy includes: Innovation and Technology;
Climate Change; Crime and Public Safety.

“Jamaica possesses a strong platform with demonstrated excellence in Sports and
Culture locally, regionally and internationally” said Ms. McDonald. She reiterated
that “Our annual Boys and Girls Championships and the Jamaican festival
movement which have honed the skills of our athletes and artiste over the years.”
The actualisation of programmes and initiatives built through partnerships are
precedence of how public-private partnerships can work to improve these areas for
the advancement of Persons with Disabilities.

During her presentation McDonald quoted Sydney Thorpe, keyboard player of the
renowned Fab 5 – “People were fascinated because they had never seen a visually
challenged person playing three keyboards at a time, much less sitting on a revolving
stool, spinning and playing the keyboards … I didn’t have anything to prove to
anybody because I was in a band that was a top band,” he said.

Ms. McDonald, stated that, “the advancement of PWDs in sports and culture can
facilitate professional integration through the development of income generating
activities. These activities will also: promote increased participation of PWDs in
community life; increase the level of education of PWD through training; Educateand inform the wider public about PWDs and increase their chances of access to
basic social services.”

She further stated that, “members of the private sector can assist with the
advancement of PWDs in the areas of Sports and Culture by: having members of
their staff volunteer to work with institutions or organisations that provide services
to PWDs; making strategic decisions to support a particular sport, art form or
individual already engaging in either areas of discipline; making donations to
existing programmes or projects that will advance the exposure and improve on the
skills of PWDs in these areas.”

The UWI Centre for Disabilities Studies biennial conference is geared at bringing
together, the academic community, the public and private sector, civil society and
members from the community of persons with disabilities; in an academic
environment to articulate topics of critical importance to one of our most vulnerable
groups.

Hero CPL teams to select their lineups

Gros Islet, St Lucia. 6 February 2018

The draft for the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League will take place on 1st March. This will be when the teams will select their lineups for the sixth edition of the tournament which will take place between 8th August and 16th September this year.

As ever, the Hero CPL will have the best cricketers taking part in the tournament, from around the world as well as from across the Caribbean. The window for this year’s event means that there are no West Indies fixtures that clash with the Hero CPL so the very best West Indian players will be available for selection.

This year the draft will take place in London, which is a reflection of the global nature of the tournament. With owners and sponsors from around the world investing in the Hero CPL and the Caribbean as a whole having the draft in London helps from a logistics point of view and helps sell the region to a global audience.

Speaking about the upcoming draft Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of Hero CPL, said: “Our draft is such an important date in the Hero CPL calendar. It is when we get to find out who will be coming to join the Biggest Party in Sport. We know that the quality of players that we have coming to this year’s tournament will generate a huge amount of excitement.

“While the Hero CPL is about bringing the Carnival atmosphere to cricket, the quality of the sport on display is just as important. The world-class cricketers that will be selected on 1st March are what make the cricket at Hero CPL so special.”

 

ABOUT THE HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE:

First started in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Combining broadcast and digital viewership over 197 million fans watched the 2017 season to make it one of the fastest growing leagues in world cricket. This year’s tournament takes place between 8th August and 16th September 2018. Trinbago Knight Riders are the current Hero CPL champions and the other competing teams are Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Stars and Jamaica Tallawahs. For further information visit www.cplt20.com.

Hero CPL and Republic Bank team up with University of West Indies for internship scheme

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be partnering with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and Republic Bank for an internship scheme that will extend the opportunity for students from the Academy of Sport Cave Hill to intern with the Hero CPL during the tournament that will run from August 4 to September 9 2017.

The students will have the opportunity to experience on the ground training in sports management as they work with the assigned CPL team members in varying departments.

The select students will have the opportunity to travel with team members and work at the finals based on performance. As part of this partnership the Hero CPL will also provide access to team members who can facilitate sessions with the selected students on areas ranging from commercial rights to sponsorship activations. Selection for this programme is now complete and the four successful students are Joel Manning and Kyle Hinkson who will work with the social media and communications team and Shernell Charley and Rohansonn Waithe work along side the Hero CPL sponsorship department.

The successful candidates will be provided with travel, accommodation, a per diem to cover their expenses and a certificate of participation which will aide them in their future career. Dr Tara Wilkinson-McClean, Sponsorship Manager for Hero CPL said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for UWI students to gain valuable experience and contacts working at the biggest sporting event in the Caribbean. The Hero CPL is fully committed to helping to develop sports management skills across the region and we are really looking forward to welcoming these talented students into our team.”

“Like the Hero CPL team, Republic Bank is proud to be associated with developmental opportunities for young Caribbean people. This tournament provides opportunities for exposure to a myriad of disciplines critical to the success not only sports, but business in general and compliments our Power to Make a Difference programme, one of the basic tenets of which is the power to succeed,” said Debbie Stoute, Manager Marketing & Corporate Communications.

Mrs. Amanda Reifer, Head, Academy of Sport, Cave Hill Campus stated: “The Academy of Sport Cave Hill is extremely pleased to partner with Hero CPL to facilitate internship opportunities for our students in our sports programmes. Students will be able to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a practical and meaningful way, at an international level.

“We look forward to working with Hero CPL in the future to expand these internship opportunities to students not only at the Cave Hill Campus but across all of the UWI campuses. This initiative is timely as UWI launches the Faculty of Sport; a clear demonstration of UWI’s commitment to the further development of sport in the region. Thus, a partnership such as this aligns perfectly.”Joel Manning (intern), Dr. Tara Wilkinson-McClean (CPL Sponsorship Manager), Kyle Hinckson (intern), Debbie Stoute (Manager Marketing & Corporate Communications with Republic Bank (Barbados) Limited) Rohansonn Waithe (intern), Amanda Reifer (Head, Academy of Sport, University of the West Indies Cavehill)

Hero CPL welcomes back Rainforest Seafoods as an official partner for 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jamaica, 13 July 2017

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has welcomed back Rainforest Seafoods as an official partner for the 2017 season of the Caribbean T20 cricket tournament.

CPL Commercial Director Jamie Stewart said: “We are delighted to welcome RainforestJamie Stewart Seafoods back as a Partner for another year. Like the Hero CPL, they are a Caribbean success story. Great seafood is a core benefit of ‘island life’, and Rainforest Seafoods is the undisputed regional industry leader, providing consumers with the best seafood products the world has to offer.”

Rainforest Seafoods is the Caribbean’s largest supplier of premium quality seafood. Since it was founded in 1995, Rainforest has risen as a corporate leader in the Caribbean business landscape, demonstrating sustainable and traceable harvesting methods, excellence in business practices and is a proud contributor to corporate social responsibility.

The company owns and manages three restaurants, a 1500-acre shrimp farm, a fleet of fishing vessels, strategically located distribution centres and value-added processing facilities across the Caribbean.

Rainforest Seafoods Export Map

With this infrastructure, Rainforest Seafoods is able to consistently supply over 500 types of fish, shellfish and other varieties of seafood within 10 countries across the Caribbean and four continents across the globe. Like the CPL, their growth has been a direct result of focusing on their customers and the tireless efforts of their 550 team members who strive to satisfy these customers on a daily basis.

Bethany_YoungBethany Young, Marketing Manager, Rainforest Seafoods said: “We are delighted to be renewing our partnership for the second year with the CPL T20 cricket tournament, which has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in 2013. The CPL T20 tournament remains a powerful brand which has raised the Caribbean’s profile as a destination, not only for world-class sporting events but increased investment.

 

“As a regional tournament that has propelled the vibrant Caribbean culture beyond our shores, CPL is reflective of the best of our region. As a 100% Caribbean company with presence across all the participating islands, we are delighted to be associated with this special tournament. This year, CPL fans and spectators will be able to taste our seafood delights as they enjoy the biggest party in sports. Best of luck to all the competing teams as we look forward to another exceptional tournament.”

-ENDS-

 

For further information please contact:

Peter Miller

Mobile: +447769119636

Head of PR and Communications

Hero Caribbean Premier League

Bolt fans receive Our Spirit VIP access to JN’s Racers Grand Prix

As the megastar of track and field Usain Bolt prepares for his final race on Jamaican soil, three women are anticipating with bated breath their first opportunity to meet and witness the Olympic champion running live after winning Our Spirit VIP access to today’s JN Racer’s Grand Prix from Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum.

The recipients were able to mingle with all the athletes in Jamaica for the races last night at the Welcome Reception and watch the races live from the Grandstand at the National Stadium today.

Cynthia Champagnie, Michelle Thompson and Natoya McFarlane, who are all self-professed Bolt fans, were all excited when they learnt that they would be attending the world-class spectacle today.

“I am too excited because I can barely wait for Saturday. It’s truly an exciting feeling to know I will be able to see the legendary Bolt run live for the first time,” an anxious Champagnie explained.

The avid track and field fans all have varying first memories of the triple world record holder but all profess to knowing early in his career that Bolt would become legendary.

“I will never forget watching him run at World Junior Champs in Jamaica. The name alone, ‘Usain Bolt’ made you know he was going to become a superstar, he lit Jamaica on fire!” recalled Natoya McFarlane.

While Thompson’s earliest memory of Bolt was at the 2004 Olympics, his best race for her is not his world record runs but his triumph over arch rival Justin Gatlin in the 100m and 200m at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

“Gatlin was running all these fast times, behaving like he could beat the ‘boss’, and Bolt showed who was the boss by whipping him twice — that is my favourite Bolt memory because he showed champions never give up,” she declared.

The three women, each with a guest, were given a chance to attend the Athlete’s Reception for the track event last night, and to view live the biggest track and field moment on Jamaica’s soil for 2017.

For marketing manager of J Wray & Nephew Limited, Pietro Gramegna, gifting these track and field devotees with the chance to witness Bolt run live for the first time was an opportunity his company could not give up: “In true Jamaican spirit, we support and celebrate our athletes whether they are performing locally or internationally, and we are pleased to grant the opportunity for three Jamaicans, who have never been lucky enough to see the legendary Usain Bolt run live, to witness his last performance in Jamaica.”

 

‘Sub-Zero’ Boosted By Win In Barbados

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A persistent two-fisted body attack, was the tactic used by Ramel ‘Sub Zero’ Lewis last Friday night, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in St. Michael, Barbados, to earn himself a split decision verdict in his six-round junior middleweight bout against Barbadian Christopher ‘Shaka’ Henry.

Two judges voted 59-56 each for Lewis, while the other judge voted 58-56 for Henry. This was the main event on a six-bout, Pro-Am Card. In one of the three amateur contests, Jamaica’s Felice Groves lost on points to Barbadian Mary Frazer, in a bout in which she should have been declared the winner by tko in the first round.

The Lewis versus Henry contest was a bruising, action-packed affair from start to finish. Henry, who is 6 feet tall, had a distinct reach advantage over the 5′ 5″ Lewis, and tried to use the jab as his main weapon. Lewis caught on to this quickly, however, and kept boring in successfully. His body shots rattled Henry, who although outgunned, had a few moments of glory himself. Lewis told The Gleaner that Henry was particularly decisive in the fifth round.

“He came on strong in the fifth and caught me with some really good shots, but I was able to hang in there, and then come back strong in the final round,” Lewis said. “It was a good hard fight, and I had to work hard to beat Shaka, who had the crowd behind him all the way, and this assisted him.”

Lewis added that he was happy for the victory and that it will boost his confidence going into 2017.

Groves met Mary Frazer in a four- round amateur bout, and started aggressively. A recording of the bout showed that within the first 30 seconds of the contest, she was all over Frazer, and caught her with a solid right to the chin that floored her. Frazer landed on her back with legs in the air, but got to her feet as the referee reached the count of two. She stumbled back, however, and was falling to the canvas again, when she was caught by the referee and taken to a neutral corner.

He then spoke with her for about 30 seconds, while she recovered. Instead of awarding the bout to Groves, the referee inexplicably signalled that it be resumed. Frazer survived the remainder of the round, regained her composure in the second round, made it a close contest thereafter and was eventually awarded a points victory.

Coach Carl Grant, who accompanied the boxers to Barbados, told The Gleaner that there was no doubt in his mind that the referee blundered, and that Groves clearly won the bout in the first round.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170104/sub-zero-boosted-win-barbados

Photo: Alia Atkinson pays courtesy call on GraceKennedy

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Jamaica’s swimming sensation and GraceKennedy Brand Ambassador Alia Atkinson has been occupied this festive season with visiting organisations that have supported her, and expressing her gratitude. Among these was GraceKennedy (GK) Group, whose headquarters she visited in downtown Kingston on Monday, December 19. There she spent quality time with Don Wehby, CEO, GraceKennedy Group, and the staff members. Here, as part of her visit, Wehby shows her a photograph he still cherishes which includes him, Atkinson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, another GK brand ambassador.