JOCHEN Zeitz, chairman and CEO of sportswear manufacturers PUMA, which is a major sponsor of Jamaica’s track and field programme, says his company is not averse to sponsoring other sports in Jamaica.

“I’m not out-ruling it, but right now Jamaica and track ad field is sort of the flagship for the PUMA brand globally when it comes to sports, just like (2006 World Cup winners) Italy is for soccer,” Zeitz told the Observer in an exclusive interview last Monday.

“I know Jamaica loves soccer and cricket as well, so I don’t want to say ‘not ever!’ But right now from a global perspective, that’s where the focus is going to be,” added the PUMA CEO, who turns 47 next Tuesday.

Zeitz is wrapping up a one-week holiday in Jamaica after attending the 100th staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boy’s and Girls’ Championships, which his company also sponsors, last month.

“Our engagement and involvement in Jamaica started with the schools and that ultimately allowed us to identify great talents (Usain Bolt) that then joined the brand,” Zeitz explained.

“It is important that we’re working with Jamaica on all levels and the schools are a very important level where the new talent comes from, but not only that, it’s also our support for Jamaica as a country because it’s all about education at the end of the day and sport in Jamaica plays a very important role in that and therefore we want to support the schools as much as we can and that’s why we actually signed some more teams and are now up to seven boys’ and girls’ schools in the country,” added Zeitz.

PUMA is also a major sponsor of Jamaica’s senior track and field programme.

Zeitz, while noting that PUMA is looking forward to great things at next year’s IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Japan, and the London 2012 Olympics, stayed clear of giving details about a possible contract extension.

“I never comment on any contracts or contract extensions… but we have a long-term partnership and everything we do is long term and we are very pleased that definitely, the next few years our partnership will only grow,” Zeitz said, noting that his company has big plans for Jamaica’s track and field over the next few years.

“That’s something I cannot talk about at this point, but rest assured that our association, our partnership venture with Jamaica and its athletes and the community will only go from strength to strength,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“I can’t reveal the exact plans, but I think (from) what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be very exciting,” concluded Zeitz, who has been at the helm of PUMA for the past 17 years.