Emotions run high in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil:

WITNESSING HISTORY has a way of triggering deep emotions, and the Red Stripe GO for GOLD grand-prize winners in Brazil have experienced the full gamut. From tears of joy to hoots of excitement, the 20-member group has been on an emotional roller coaster since landing in the South American country last Friday.

“Can you imagine that I am here seeing this? An experience like this is normally something you read about, but look at me here and now standing at attention to my national anthem, in Brazil,” said a teary-eyed Serona Gordon, one of the lucky Red Stripe customers.

Gordon’s undoing was the medal ceremony for the women’s 100m and the pride she felt as a Jamaican woman. Sharing in the euphoria, the other GO for GOLD winners were also overwhelmed with emotion, many of them hardpressed to describe how they felt about the opportunity to watch history. “Being at the 100m finals in Brazil means the world to me. Even more so to see the ‘Boss’ himself on the track. I can’t really express how I am feeling right now,” said an elated Valerie Dyer.

ANTICIPATING THE RELAYS

Having experienced the excitement of the individual sprints, group members are looking forward to the relays and the continued dominance of the Jamaican athletes.

“We’ve been seeing the clips of the excitement at home, and we can definitely tell our friends in Jamaica that athletics is big in Brazil. Jamaica is certainly what’s good about the sport right now,” said Reshima Kelly, Red Stripe assistant brand manager.

Beyond the Maracana Stadium, the grand-prize winners have also relished the cultural offerings of Brazil. Describing it as an emotional and almost spiritual excursion, Kelly pointed to their visit to the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue. The colossal 98-foot structure, with its extended arms and 360-degree picturesque view of Rio, stands firmly atop the 700m Corcovado Mountain. “We are mainly from Christian homes and so there was something surreal about this trip today,” said Donna Atkinson.

For husband and wife Delroy and Eleite Daley, the historic spot was the perfect backdrop to reaffirm their love for each other and to savour this once-in-a-lifetime moment. With only a few days left in Brazil, the group plans to visit the famous Sugarloaf Mountain, among other popular attractions.