Dr Walton Small, president of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), has highlighted the significant role title sponsor GraceKennedy has and continues to play in the continued development of Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, even as he implored other corporate entities to partner with ISSA to improve the brand.

Dr Small made the call in his address at Wednesday’s press launch of the 106th staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships at the Spanish Court’s Valencia Suite.

“The 106th staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships is here again. It has developed into the best high school track and field event anywhere in the world. With such a rich tradition of excellence, it is important that all partners associated with this product do everything in their power to ensure that the excellence is maintained or improved on,” stated Dr Small.

He added: “The question that one has to ask oneself is, ‘Is it good enough to destroy or enjoy the legacy built by others, or are you going to do something to enhance the legacy?’ Many have come and paid lip service as to how the product can be improved but have not made an attempt to act on proposals.

“It is against this background that I want to say thanks to GraceKennedy Limited for converting an idea into action. This year, in particular with ISSA, a media company, Greenfield Media Limited, was formed. This company will exploit the media rights of all ISSA sports to bring in revenue to fund the development of sports at ISSA. I now use this medium to invite other companies/organisations to partner with us to improve the brand.”

Dr Small, who is also the Wolmer’s Boys’ School principal, informed the audience that it costs well over $80 million to stage the annual showpiece event, even as many continue to ask what ISSA does with the revenue from Champs.

He made it clear that funds “go back to all schools through reflows”, but most importantly, the funds are used to administer 13 other sporting disciplines which typically have a senior, intermediate and junior category.

These sporting disciplines are not sponsored and are usually expensive to stage when taking into consideration the rental of facilities, referees/umpires and officials’ fees, meals, seminars, meetings, travel etc.

He also spoke to the fact that ISSA operates an office and, therefore, must maintain same, as well as caring for salaries and emoluments to staff.

“With that said, is there any wonder why we guard the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships with our lives?” noted Dr Small.

He thanked the organising committee, led by chairman Colleen Montague, the Wolmer’s High School for Girls principal, for always raising the quality of the meet year after year. And he also singled out title sponsors GraceKennedy Limited, as well as associate sponsors Flow, telecommunication provider; First Global Bank, financial partner; Puma, apparel provider, and Lucozade, the official hydration partner, for investing significantly in the development of the young athletes.