By Kiev Chesney
In order to raise awareness of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games in Guyana, Banks DIH Ltd, as the authorized distributor of Coca Cola locally, has decided to partner with the Guyana Olympic Association to put on the Coca Cola Caravan beginning at the 9:30am this Saturday at the National Stadium, Providence.
The Coca Cola Caravan will be observed in Guyana in the form of an Olympic torch relay involving 12 different sporting fraternities with just over 70 athletes completing the 16 mile course which begins at the National Stadium and ends at the Main Street Quik Serv restaurant.
Each sports fraternity will consist of six athletes and are expected to run, walk or jog just about a mile.
Sales and Marketing Executive of Banks DIH Ltd Carlton João said that the Coca Cola Company has been one of the longest continuous corporate partners of the Olympic Games and has seen it fit at this time to join in with the rest of the world to build awareness of the imminent start of the world biggest sporting event.
A statement from João yesterday declared: “We’re proud of our association with the Olympic Games and of our support for the 2008 Beijing Games.
“The Olympic Games remind us that there can be a common ground of understanding between people of different backgrounds.”
President of the Guyana Olympic Association K.A Juman Yassin, who was also present at yesterday’s press briefing, said that he was very pleased to be part of bringing the spirit of the Olympic Games to Guyana.
He said that the principles of the event provides fair play, fosters healthy relationships between nations as well as develops camaraderie among athletes.
The lone locally-based athlete that will be participating at the Olympic Games Niall Roberts will lead a delegation from the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) and carry the torch on the anchor leg.
Other sporting fraternities that will be represented at the Coca Cola Caravan include the Guyana Cycling Federation, the Guyana Football Federation, the Guyana Hockey Board, the Guyana Rifle Shooting Association and the Guyana Table Tennis Association.
Troy Peters, Communicators Officer of Banks DIH, said that there will also be short cultural presentation by the local Chinese community featuring dragon dancing. He added that Coca Cola paraphernalia will be distributed to spectators along the route.
Saturday’s event starts at the National Stadium, Providence, proceeds north along the East Bank Highway to the Houston Bypass, east into Mandela Avenue, north into Sheriff Street, west into Campbell Avenue, south along Vlissingen Road, west into Regent Street, north into Albert Street, west into North Road, and north into Avenue of the Republic into Main Street to end at the Main Street Quik Serv location.
