Team Bahamas got a $100,000 donation from the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) which officials say will go towards the $400,000 cost of getting the team to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
This year Team Bahamas consists of 25 track and field stars and one swimmer.
“We at BTC want to ensure that the entire team, including coaches and medical personnel have every advantage available to they are able to focus on bringing home the gold,” said BTC CEO Geoff Houston during a cheque presentation at the company’s John F. Kennedy Drive headquarters yesterday.
“Beyond performance, we want to applaud everyone involved for the team spirit, effort, discipline and determination to make it to this level. We congratulate the team and wish everyone a healthy and successful Olympics.”
According to Mr. Houston, the donation is part of the company’s all-over commitment to The Bahamas.
In return, the Bahamas Olympic Association (BOA) awarded BTC with a trophy recognising the company for sports and sustainable development.
BOA Secretary General Romell Knowles said though the cost for the team to travel to London is a whopping $400,000, BTC’s donation will go a long way.
“Our four year partnership with BTC from now until the Brazil Olympics in 2016 makes BTC our top local sponsor in the Olympic movement. So we are extremely appreciative of BTC’s corporate and social responsibility in developing and moulding young lives through sports,” Mr. Knowles said.
But Mr. Knowles also put out a clarion call for other entities to support the Olympic team.
Along with the $100,000 donation, BTC pledged to drive a national campaign under the umbrella of Team Bahamas to add to the coffers and boost team spirit.
“We are launching a three week campaign to get Bahamians excited about supporting our team,” explained BTC Senior Manager Public Relations Jerome Sawyer.
“In connection with that, we will have a wide range of promotions. During the Olympics, we will have special rates so people can call internationally for extremely low rates. We will be running ads for special promotions, keeping our Facebook page lively and engaging the public in every way we can to support team Bahamas.”
