Kingston, Jamaica –The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) has provided $5 million for the staging of the 2017 Jamaica International Invitational Meet (JIIM) set for May 20 at the National Stadium in Kingston.

The contribution is the final tranche of a $15 million sponsorship package which the PCJ announced in 2015 with equal allocations of $5 million over a three-year period.The PCJ in a release said the support was given against the background of the schedule of major track and field events over the period including the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China in 2015, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the upcoming 2017 World Championships scheduled for August in London, England.The JIIM, which is among the biggest sporting events held on local soil, is a critical element in Jamaica’s track and field programme. It serves as a preparatory event for major championships giving local athletes a chance to experience elite level competition without leaving the country.In addition, the meet attracts international media coverage which provides global exposure for Jamaican athletes and the country’s athletics programme. It also enjoys a good level of participation from renowned international sportspersons and this year’s line-up includes American Olympic gold medallists LaShawn Merritt and Allyson Felix as well as Jamaican superstars Elaine Thompson, Asafa Powell and Javon Francis.