Sponsors help games
CORPORATE assistance help materialise efforts to help Fijians in sport.
Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji Ltd national sales manager, convenience and leisure, Lawrence Tikaram said this yesterday during the 2021 Coca-Cola Games’ Powerade National Torch Relay launch yesterday.
The event, held at the Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji Ltd headquarters at Laucala Beach in Suva, was attended by games co-sponsors and partners Digicel, Fiji Gas, Pacific Energy.
“We have been working together for the betterment of the Coca-Cola Games for years,” Tikaram said.
“We each play our part in helping our young athletes rise in the games and expose their sporting talents.
“The Coca-Cola Games is by far one of the strongest symbols of athleticism and professionalism, of coming together in what is deemed to be the biggest games ever.
“This event will be a beacon of hope to those who are battling COVID-19 to look to us and see how well we can return to life under the new light and share the spirit of hope and flame of the Coca-Cola Games which is about respect, love, diversity, unity and sharing the success of our athletes.”
“Without sponsors, athletes and without Fiji secondary schools, we are not able to hold the games.
“We wish the schools the very best because at the end of the day, only one flag will be flying and that is the Fiji flag.”
Meanwhile, Pacific Energy gave $10,000 to help administer the games.
“This year the games will be more exciting after a lapse of one year because of the COVID-19.
“The excitement at the games will symbolise normalcy as far as returning to the tracks and sport is concerned,” Pacific Energy commercial, business manager lubricants Amit Maharaj said.
“Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association deserves support for its continuity to bring this event and it cannot be possible without the sponsors. The sponsors have come together because the games have a symbolic meaning and the torch relay is the start of that,” said Vanessa Kilner, the national sales and marketing manager at Fiji Gas.
“The flame, when it travelled around Fiji, from schools to schools and communities brought everybody together.
“The anticipation of this year’s games has grown.
“People are coming together and this is the true meaning of the Coca-Cola Games.
“This event is the biggest, but to me it is the best in the world when it comes to the atmosphere it creates and the friendly rivalry,” Digicel marketing and sponsorship manager Satish Narain said.
“As for Digicel, we are putting up $8000 cash in sponsorship. From us, all grade winners the sub-junior girls and boys, junior, intermediate, senior, overall boys and girls champion, at the end of the games on Saturday will receive cash prizes.
“We will give mobile phones to the overall best athlete in the boys and girls division plus a three-month all end prime bundle which is the best data offer in the country and the region.”
The torch relay will not run around the country because of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the games is dedicated to Fiji’s frontline workers in combatting the deadly virus.