The Guyana Beverage Inc (GBI) through its Oasis Water brand has handed over $1, 197,400 to the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) on Thursday at the company’s Head Office, Diamond, East Bank Demerara. That sum will be used for the inaugural Oasis 5K Road Race and Fun Walk to be held on November 12 in the National Park, Georgetown.
Speaking at the launch of the event, GBI Commercial Manager, Samuel Arjoon stated that the company has a vested interest in the development of sport in Guyana.
GBI Commercial Manager Samuel Arjoon hands over the cheque to AAG President Aubrey Hutson as other officials look on
“Through the Oasis brand we are very happy to be a part of this because we see sports development in young people as critical to the development of themselves, their community and by extension for national development. We know that sport is a big industry that can transform the country and we at Guyana Beverage Inc, we believe in the holistic development of people through sport and education. This is a perfect opportunity for us to partner with the athletics association through the Oasis brand to help develop our young athletes, to be exposed to more opportunity so in time to come, they will be able to put Guyana and their sportsmen on the map,” Arjoon explained.
Meanwhile AAG President, Aubrey Hutson revealed that “it was like a dream come through for the Athletics Association of Guyana to start receiving calls from potential sponsors who would like to partner with us.” He pointed out that the AAG has been hard at work to develop the product of athletics in Guyana, to make the athletes marketable. He maintained that now athletics is at a stage where corporate Guyana can partner with the association to advance development even further.
“We see it as a worthy partner and we hope that the launch of this first event is not just the launch of Oasis Water in Guyana but an annual event that we can look forward to every year” Hutson declared.
It was revealed that registration began some two weeks back and is currently ongoing daily at the National Park as well as AAG’s Head Office at 125 Light Street, Georgetown. Registration deadline for the event is November 10.
The prizes are cash and accompanying accolades; in the Golden Juniors category prizes are $10,000 for first to third place while fourth and fifth will walk away with a $5000 voucher. In the Senior Category first to third place will win $35000, $25000 and $20000 in that order. First to third placed Master athletes will pocket $15000, $10000 and $5000 respectively.
The event will begin at the National Park on November 12 at 15:30h. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
