Brian George (right) president, CEO of Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), presents the sponsorship cheque to Ludlow Watts (left), chairman of the National Championships organising committee, as JAAA president Howard Aris looks on at the press briefing at SVL's office in New Kingston, yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

PRESIDENT AND CEO of Supreme Ventures Limited, Brian George, yesterday singled out track and field athletes as the greatest sports ambassadors for the country.

George made the comment at the handover function of $1.5 million to the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) for the staging of the National Senior and Junior Championships which starts on Friday.

"Track and field is producing the greatest ambassadors for Jamaica, of all sports right now," said George.

"I am not talking about Asafa Powell but certainly all sports cannot point to the level of contribution that track and field is making in the Jamaican diaspora and certainly internationally," added George. Ludlow Watts, treasurer of the JAAA, told George and his staff at the company's corporate office in New Kingston that his organisation plans to continue the good work in the sport.

Programme will continue

"We will ensure that the Jamaica athletics programme will continue to lead the world," Watts said.

Watts also used the opportunity to tell the sponsors that Jamaica was ranked second in the world as far as the sprints - 100m, 200m, 400, relays and hurdles - were concerned, just behind the United States.

Supreme Ventures' sponsorship was a renewed commitment to the Championships which will be staged at the National Stadium over three days - Friday to Sunday, starting at 4:00 p.m. each day.

"This (sponsorship) represents our ongoing and continued commitment to track and field. Not only is it good for Supreme Ventures and the JAAA, but it is good for Jamaica," he said.