Warren Weir new Serge Island milk brand ambassador
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s 200 metres Olympic bronze medallist, Warren Weir, has been retained by the Seprod subsidiary, Serge Island Dairies, Jamaica’s largest milk producer, as its brand ambassador in a new multi-million dollar deal.
The deal was brokered by local sports management firm, PowerSports Dynasty Consultancy Services, and the announcement was made Wednesday at an event put on by the company at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Weir, 24, who specialises in the 200 metres, was the bronze medallist in the event at the 2012 London Olympics, helping Jamaica sweep all three medals in the finals.
He won the silver medal over the distance at the 2013 Moscow World Championships, equalling his personal best and finishing behind Usain Bolt, who set a World leading time in the process.
Weir, who trains with the Glen Mills-coached Racers Track Club, along with Bolt and Yohan Blake, set his personal best of 19.79 seconds at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Meanwhile, it was also announced that Serge Island is investing in excess of $20 million in the popular primary schools and inter-prep schools track and field championships.
Among guests attending the function were: Minister without Portfolio (Sport) in the Office of the Prime Minister, Natalie Neita-Headley; Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness; Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Angela Brown-Burke; State Minister for Tourism and Entertainment, Damion Crawford; Science and Energy State Minister Julian Robinson; and Opposition Senator Nigel Clarke.
Seprod’s chairman, P B Scott, said that the investment was critical at this time, “given the serious challenges faced in sustaining these very important sports programmes that are key to health-focused youth development”.
He said that the inter-prep and inter-primary championships will help to inform the wider populace on the need for a balanced nutrition, and utilizing high quality local milk at affordable prices.
“It is a win, win (situation),” said Scott.
Matthew Samuda, marketing manager for Seprod’s exclusive distributor Facey Commodity, said that Serge Island will be promoting youth sports development, a healthy nutrition and buying Jamaican products during the period.
“Therefore, taking on a prominent and young Jamaican athlete will only augment for the better, what it is we are pushing, and reinforce our commitment to building up Jamaica,” he added.
Serge Island Milk, a household brand, has a long association with Jamaican athletes, with one of its last major promotional programmes taking on board famed cricketer and West Indies captain James ‘Jimmy’ Adams.
Balford Henry