Carifta Swim Champs gets Flow, ICSL boost

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Telecommunications provider Flow Jamaica and information technology firm, Innovative Corporate Solutions Limited (ICSL), will this year be main sponsors of the XXV Carifta Swimming Championships, which will be held here in Jamaica from April 3-4 at Bournemouth Bath and the National Stadium Pools.

Flow will sponsor the champion-ship to the tune of $2 million in cash and kind, while ICSL will contribute $1.65 million in kind, via information technology solutions and services for the time-driven event.

"This is our first foray into swimming and we hope to provide a level of partnership that will ensure that the championship is a success and swimming gets the recognition it deserves," said Sharon Roper, Flow's director of marketing, at a press conference to launch the championship at the Knutsford Court Hotel, yesterday.

"Swimming also affects a number of our country's youth, which is one of our pet peeves at Flow, and with Jamaica's tendency to win whenever we host the championship, we hope to help make Jamaica number one in the region," she added.

The championship, which is being held in Jamaica for the fourth time in the last 12 years, will see action in swimming, water polo and synchro-nised swimming.

A total of 15 countries, including back-to-back champions Trinidad and Tobago, are down to take part. The championship was held in Aruba last year.

Assistance

"Sports organisations like Ama-teur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) always needs assistance and while we can't provide cash, we can assist via our variety of information technological products and services, which will help the event run smoother and meet world class standards," said Christopher Reckford, ICSL's executive director, sales and marketing.

"We will be importing $1.3 million worth of equipment and supplies and providing close to $350,000 in terms of services," he declared.

Meanwhile, Senator Warren Newby, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, who was guest speaker at the launch, praised the efforts of the ASAJ thus far and pledged to ensure that the National Stadium Pools, which are now under renovation, will be ready in time for the start of the event.

"The Ministry, through the Sports Development Foundation, has donated four million dollars for the repairs to the National Stadium pool to prepare for the champion-ship and I am happy to announce that the work is on schedule and that the pool's reopening will be part of the celebration of these Games in April," said Newby.

The event is also being sponsored by the Knutsford Court Hotel, which will act as the athletes' village, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Puma, Sun Island Limited, Rainbow Awnings, Courts Jamaica Limited, JUTA, and Top Klass Events and Marketing.