Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

The signature of long-time sponsors Victoria Mutual is marked all over the event as Vere Techynical's Inderia Spence (left) clears a hurdle ahead of Immaculate's Kimberly Laing during the girl's Class One 100m hurdles final at this year's VMBS Boys' and Girl's Athletics Championships at the National Stadium. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) yesterday announced the end of its 14-year association with the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships.

However, ISSA says it was aware of the situation and had prepared itself by booking a new sponsor for next year's event.

In a release sent through its public relations company, PRO Comm, VMBS said they will not be continuing as the title sponsor of the national High schools event because they are pursuing new "strategic directions".

The release stated:

"As the Victoria Mutual (VM) Group pursues new strategic directions, the organization and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association have announced that after serving as the major sponsor of the ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships (CHAMPS) for 14 years, VM will not be continuing as the title sponsor in 2007."

The long-time sponsors also "... commended the executive and members of ISSA for their strong leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of Jamaica's young athletes".

Issa steps up

The release also said ISSA will, in turn, honour VMBS for its sponsorship role over the years.

It stated: "For its part, ISSA has expressed its appreciation for the unique and critical role that the VM Group has played in making Boys' and Girls' Championships the premier High school athletics meet in the world. ISSA indicated that it will use a suitable occasion to recognise VM for its sterling contribution to Champs."

No additional reason was given for the surprisingly abrupt end to what appeared a most fruitful association given the tremendous mileage the sponsors would have gotten throughout the relationship, and the part they played in assisting the development of the meet and its athletes.

However, while figures were not revealed, The Gleaner was reliably informed that ISSA sought increased sponsorship but VMBS did not match their request.

Commitment

As such, they entered negotiations and have already secured a commitment for sponsorship which it refused to name at this time.

"We have a sponsor that we will announce early in the New Year, as early as the first or second week," ISSA's competitions director George Forbes told The Gleaner in an interview by phone last night.

He added: "ISSA was aware of VMBS' decision from early. We were not left hanging É we are in the process of finalising the negotiations with the new sponsor."

At the launch of Champs in March earlier this year at the Hilton hotel, president and CEO at VMBS, Richard Powell, who at the time was less than a year in the job, said his company was once again pleased to be associated with Champs and they were looking to continue a long relationship.

As part of its sponsorship package, VMBS provided education grants to outstanding athletes at Champs, tenable at local tertiary institutions, and it also introduced the Building Hope Award - a grant to upcoming schools that show promise at the meet.

Feedback: anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com