The JAAA President may be lackadaisical but I do not think he is dumb. Rejecting a U$2mil or U$3mil sponsorship offer would be just that. There has to be more to it than just this. Id like to see what else is involved here. They need the money / sponsorship badly. Blake dismisses reports as mischievous Andre Lowe President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Dr Warren Blake has described as mischievous reports that his administration recently turned down a US$2 million-a-year kit sponsorship offer from German sports good manufacturers adidas and a US$3 million-a-year offer from Chinese company 361 Degrees. The cash-strapped JAAA is currently outfitted by Puma - the worlds third-largest kit provider - in a deal believed to be below the US$1 million mark, a contract that the JAAAs top brass has repeatedly expressed an intention to revisit. In an effort to secure an improved deal, it is understood that the JAAA requested bids from both adidas and 361 Degrees but later pulled out of negotiations and is now expected to extend its current Puma deal beyond the December 2016 expiry date. When contacted on Friday, Blake was reluctant to comment on the matter, while suggesting that the reports were mischievous and geared at undermining his administration. I wont comment on things like that. I dont wish to comment on things like that, said Blake. Whoever gave that information is being mischievous. Though unable to get an official statement from either sportswear company, The Sunday Gleaner was informed by well-placed sources that adidas offered a US$2 million-a-year deal, with an additional US$750,000 to be delivered in kits and gear. The offer, it is understood, features a 10 per cent yearly increase, an additional US$2 million sign-on bonus, as well as 25 per cent on licensing and royalties from Jamaica-branded apparel sales. According to our sources, this offer was made during one of at least two meetings between adidas executives, lawyers, and JAAA officials. One of these meetings took place during the adidas Grand Prix in New York last year. The meetings were reportedly attended by Blake and JAAA executives Garth Gayle, Dave Myrie, Dennis Gordon, and Gregory Hamilton. long-time supporter The JAAA administration also received an eight-year offer in excess of US$3 million a year in cash from 361 Degrees - a deal that also included bonuses, licensing and royalties components, a US$2 million sign-on fee. There was also an offer for the first two years of the 361 Degrees sponsorship value to be paid up front in full. Puma has been a long-time supporter of Jamaican track and field and currently sponsors Jamaican posterboy Usain Bolt - the World and Olympics 100m and 200m champion and world record holder, as well as other athletes from the island such as Olympic 110m hurdles bronze medallist Hansle Parchment and 400m hurdler Ristananna Tracey. The company has also supported a number of local high school programmes and development track and field meets since its JAAA partnership started
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 16:05:24 +0000
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