Wrapped for Champs - JUTC pays homage to Holmwood, Calabar

Chad Bryan, Star Writer

The title holders in the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA)/Grace Kennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships will be heading to this week's defence in style. Popularly known simply as 'Champs', the immensely popular track and field meet will be held at the National Stadium, St Andrew, from March 25 to 29.

Calabar, who topped the boys section in 2013, and reigning female champions Holmwood, have both been assigned specially wrapped buses by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). The buses bear the school's colours, well-known athletes and insignia. Complete with drivers, they have also been assigned to transport the teams to and from the National Stadium during the championships.

A number of representatives from each school were present at a recent launch of the buses held by the JUTC at their headquarters on Norman Manley Drive, Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

GIVING BACK

Clinton Clarke marketing and communications manager at the JUTC, told Automotives that it is not only a matter of paying tribute to the top teams, but all students who utilise the state-run service - about 100,000 every week day. "They are a very faithful group of passengers. Their contribution on a daily basis represents about $2 million to the coffers of the JUTC. As such, we thought it was fitting to reach out to this group, and this is our small way of
saying thanks to them for contributing," Clarke
said.

He also said that this move by the JUTC was a
way of enticing other teams to excel. "This is a project we would like
to carry out on an annual basis. We also thought that it would be
excellent for the motivation of other teams to go out there and try to
win. In winning, the JUTC will basically take care of the transportation
expenses for the season next year. Next year, we intend to make this
available to them in the beginning of the track season in January,
Clarke said.

The specially wrapped buses continue run
their regular routes, but through special arrangements will also
facilitate transporting the athletes during Champs. "The buses were
wrapped and then sent out on their regular routes. They will be utilised
during the period of Champs, so we will have a special schedule from
Calabar and Holmwood, and we will take them (the students) around during
that period of time. Both buses are domiciled at the Spanish Town
depot. They will run from Spanish Town to Kingston," Clarke
explained.

Principal of Holmwood Technical, Paul
Bailey, pointed out that the school's track team as well as the rest of
the school population was elated at being assigned the bus. A member of
Calabar High School's administration also echoed those sentiments.
"There has been an overwhelming reaction from the students. The bus has
taken the track team to and from the National Stadium for the past
weeks," the representative said.

In keeping with their
association with champions, the JUTC still maintains a relationship
with the national football team, the Reggae Boyz, through a memorandum
of understanding with the Jamaica Football
Federation.