ExxonMobil grateful to partner with local organisations in sport

Since coming to Guyana, oil giant ExxonMobil has supplied substantial corporate support for sports countrywide, by providing financial support to organisers so as to support the growth of young athletes.
Over the years, ExxonMobil has made a significant impact in football, kayaking, cricket and basketball, among other sports, intending to foster youth development whether through health-related or psychological benefits.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, ExxonMobil Community Relations Advisor Ryan Hoppie expounded on the aim of the company’s support, which can lead to overall youth development in sports and education.
Hoppie explained, “As you know, ExxonMobil has been supporting youth development through sports; today we are dealing with track and field and we have been dealing with kayaking, football, basketball as well and cricket. The aim is basically to continue to invest in youth sports and I know of many young people who are involved in activities whether it is creative arts, whether it is sports; we are mainly focused on sports right now and it is something that brings a lot of teams together. There is the competitive spirit as well, but … also that reduced attrition in schools, so a lot of the young people here of course maintain grades in school, improving their basic life skills of that nature so that they can become wholesome athletes as they continue to develop in their wholesome sports field.”
Hoppie went on to address the impact the company’s support can have on young athletes in realising their dreams, while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to partner with local organisations.
“A lot of what you see happening through our sponsorship initiatives comes from a lot of the information that we are getting through the communities so we go into our communities, we engage with residents and we meet meaningfully and we are asking ‘What can we do to support your community to support your development?’ and sport is one of those things that we are hearing and so we are proud to be supporting. Of course, Private Sector involvement is something that is meaningful and is needed, and we are just happy to play a part and to partner with organisations locally to realise the dreams of young athletes in Guyana and of course, they are not just our future, they are now and so we are here and supporting now,” Hoppie declared.
Thus far, ExxonMobil has sponsored the ExxonMobil Inter-School and Inter-District kayaking competitions, the ExxonMobil U14 Boys’ and Girls’ football tournament, the ExxonMobil Linden Inter-School Football Tournament, the National Schools’ Basketball Festival and the Guyana Amazon Warriors CPL franchise team. (Omar McKenzie)