SEPROD Limited has come forward with a sponsorship package of $10 million for the 2013 33rd staging of the Seprod/INSPORTS Primary Schoolboys and Girls Athletics Championships scheduled to be held from May 8-11 at the National Stadium, it was announced yesterday.

At a media launch held at the National Indoor Sport Centre (NISC), it was also disclosed that the overall sponsorship also includes a further $900,000 that will provide breakfast for athletes and coaches.

In her remarks, sales and marketing manager of Seprod Limited Maurice Kitson-Walters said that this is the eighth consecutive year that her company will be with INSPORTS for the championships.

“It gives the youngsters the opportunity to shine, and we thank INSPORTS and their team for a job well done. It is also a development meet and it is also important that we give them (students) as much opportunities to show their talents,” she said.

This year will see an increase in participation of 73 schools from last year’s 65, including newcomers and those making returns. There will be approximately 3,366 athletes competing in the four-day championships respresenting the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Portland, St Thomas and Clarendon.

The new schools are Suthermere, which is now a primary school after being a prep school for many years, Balcombe Drive, Whitfield, Easington from St Thomas and Bybrook from Portland. Returning are Simon, Marlie Mount, Drews Avenue, Homestead and Padmore.

Meanwhile, Naggo Head Primary are the back-to-back defending champions, having won the championships for the last four years. New Providence were second, St Benedict’s third and Belmont Park fourth.

The other participating schools are Holy Family, King Weston, St Aloysius, Grateful Hill, Cassava River, Maxfield Park, George Headley, St Francis, Padmore, St Peter Claver, Hillside, August Town, Dupont, Duhaney Park, York Street, North Street, Mona, Allman Town, Harbour View, Friendship, Seaview Gardens, Hope Valley Experimental, Pembroke Hall, Ewarton, Rousseau, Golden Spring, Clan Carthy, St John’s, Excelsior, Holy Rosary, Spanish Town, Port Henderson, Belmont Park, Alpha, Time and Patience, New Providence, Waterford, Rollington Town, Morant Bay, Gregory Park, Greater Portmore, Independence City, Elletson, Craighton, Angel’s, St Catherine, Bridgeport, Jericho, Woodford Park, Portsmouth, Half-Way-Tree, St Jude’s, Dunrobin, South Borough, St Richard’s, Kensington, Polly Ground, Horizon Park, Balmagie, Jessie Ripoll, St Patrick’s and Iris Gelly.

Administrative Director of INSPORTS Ian Andrews said he is extremely excited at the prospects.

“This was achieved by teamwork by INSPORTS and I am confident that coaches and teachers will bring their best set of athletes showcasing their best talents at the four-day Primary Schools Championships in a few days from now at the National Stadium,” he said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites congratulated Seprod, INSPORTS and Hi-Lyte for putting together this great Primary Schools Championships.

“The Government is now looking at all the schools — primary, prep and secondary — that they must have sports as one of the subjects, and it is very important,” he said.