President and CEO of Cable & Wireless, Rodney Davis (right), greets Asafa Powell at the contract signing between his company and Powell's MVP Track Club yesterday on Half-Way-Tree Road. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

THE world's fastest human, Asafa Powell who turns 23 today, and his club, MVP, will have all their telecommunications needs, including mobile and fixed-line voice services and high speed internet, met for an initial period of 12 months by Cable & Wireless.

Cable & Wireless, the only full service telecommunications provider in Jamaica today, made the sponsorship announcement yesterday at its Corporate Headquarters on Half-Way-Tree Road.

In an agreement signed yesterday, the company will be designated the exclusive telecommunications sponsor of Powell, who will appear in advertisements and at company events, endorsing their products and services, particularly the high speed internet services.

The full value of the deal, subject to a confidentiality clause signed between the company and MVP Track Club, was not disclosed.

Cable and Wireless president and CEO Rodney Davis saluted Powell for his accomplishments on the world stage, continuing "Jamaica's enviable tradition in the world of track and field".

"Asafa's ascendancy to the top of world sprinting could not have come at a more appropriate time for the country that I know he is proud to call his home. His example, and that of our sprint queen Veronica Campbell, is one that is desperately needed at this time in Jamaica.

"Young Jamaicans can look at these two outstanding athletes and realise that nothing is beyond their reach if they are prepared to sacrifice and work hard.

"We see our association with Asafa as being a springboard for other such initiatives by other corporate bodies with other outstanding Jamaican athletes.

"We believe that this relationship will help provide Asafa with the resources he needs to have to remain at the top for a very long time. And although we are bound by a confidentiality clause in the agreement, I think I can safely say that the deal is a win/win for both parties," Davis pointed out.

"The signing of this agreement happily coincides with our launch later this week (tomorrow) of another exciting and bold service offer on our high speed Internet services. We will double the speed for customers currently on our Internet Lite package from 128kbps to 256 kbps for just US$2. This offer is good through December 31, 2005," he explained.

The Cable & Wireless deal for MVP comes almost a month after National Commercial Bank announced its $6-million sponsorship for the track club, and according to president Bruce James another corporate company could throw its support next month.

In his remarks, James said it was a "good day" for the club and there was "more evidence that Corporate Jamaica is wide awake to track and field".

He noted that while MVP was a local-based club, it boasted "international standard and support".

Powell, meanwhile, said he was delighted that "Jamaican companies were coming aboard to show their appreciation", hoping that the support "goes on for a while".

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