JAMAICA Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has confirmed renewal of its sponsorship agreement with German sporting gear brand Puma.

This confirmation follows a report first made by the Jamaica Observer earlier this month that a deal was agreed upon. This comes months after reports, also by the Observer, that JAAA was approached by rival sporting gear brand adidas to enter into a partnership when the JAAA’s existing deal with Puma ends in December.

President Garth Gayle describes the new deal as having “far exceeded that of their competitors”.

The comments were said to have been made at Saturday’s annual general meeting (AGM) held at Jamaica College, where Gayle was re-elected unopposed to serve a second-consecutive term, along with his executives.

A release sent on behalf of JAAA said Gayle made the announcement during his address to the AGM, describing it as “another highlight from the past year”.

Without going into any details about the value or duration of the sponsorship, the release said, “The president expressed gratitude for Puma’s unwavering support, particularly through the pandemic, and the company’s significant contribution to various grass roots initiatives, high school sponsorships, and national events like the Gibson Relays and the boys’ & girls’ championships.”

Gayle is understood to have said in his address that, “Puma’s commitment far exceeded that of their competitors, ensuring that the JAAA remains well-equipped to support its athletes and continue its mission of excellence.”

The Observer has seen a counter proposal from adidas valuing over US$40 million (over $6 billion) over eight years between 2025-2032, an increase from another offer of US$26,000,000 (over $4 billion) that was said to have been made in 2013 and was to have also been for eight years.

The adidas proposal offered an “annual retainer of US$2.5 million (around $397 million)” included in a budget of just under US$3 million ($476 million), in addition to products worth up to another US$2.13 million ($338 million) per year.

The Observer received no response from the JAAA when a comment was sought.