MILO’s support for Western Relays started 20 years ago when it came on board as a major sponsor to a small but respected event that was held at Cornwall College in Montego Bay.
The company has seen the growth of the event from those days to the beginning of the Montego Bay Sports Complex when it was just a track with no fence or stands, to GC Foster College for two years when the stadium was not available, to the now complete 7,000-seatre stadium.
MILO’s support has always been for the overall development of a first-class relay carnival in the western region of the island that showcases the best that the island has to offer in track and field.
The company has sought to add value to its sponsorship year over year. During the past six years, including this year, the MILO Sports Nutrition & Lifestyle Clinic is held on the day of the launch. It caters to 100 athletes and approximately 40 coaches. They are taken through the rigours of proper nutrition for optimum sports performance.
Last year UTech was brought on board to make a special presentation on injury prevention and management. This year Dr Garfield Campbell (vice president of the Sports Medicine Association) presented on anti-doping in sports.
Additionally, for the past three years an Olympian is invited to share his/her success story and to be a source of motivation. This year Deon Hemmings-McCatty was the motivational speaker, while Neville Myton was the man last year and Juliet Cuthbert shared her story in 2012.
This year, in celebration of the 20th year, a special grant of $200,000 was made to Holmwood Technical High School in recognition of its success in sports, especially in track and field.
The value of MILO’s overall sponsorship this year amounts to $6m with a direct cash payment to the meet organiser of $2.5m. The balance includes prizes for the winners, the grant to Holmwood and execution expenses.
This event is MILO’s second-longest sponsored event (behind the Gibson Relays) that is being sponsored for the 38th consecutive year.
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MILO bats for Western Relays
