Athletes With BTC Executives
Six outstanding Athletes now have new endorsements deals with BTC which will splash their images across BTC ad campaigns and commercials over the next year.
BTC recently honored The Golden Knights, Michael Mathieu, Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, and Ramon Miller, as well as Olympians Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Anthonique Strachan at a luncheon and endorsement signing ceremony.
The luncheon was attended by the Minister of Youth Sports & Culture Daniel Johnson, Ministry officials, BTC executives, representatives from the various sporting organisations, athletes’ families and members of the media. In addition, winners of the company’s social media and internal staff contests joined in the festivities.
Prior to the London Olympic Games, BTC sponsored the entire Bahamas Olympic team some $100,000 and pledged to continue their sponsorship of sports development in The Bahamas.
“When the idea was first presented to our Executive body, never once was there hesitation. The simple truth is that Sports development is a major pillar in our model of Corporate Social Responsibility” said Geoff Houston, BTC CEO.
When the athletes returned home after a stellar performance at the games, BTC remained committed to supporting them throughout their journey to Brazil in 2016.
“At BTC’s head office plans began almost immediately to recognize the efforts and achievements of these talented young athletes. We determined, as we had done with many athletes in the past, that BTC would officially endorse our Golden Knights – as shining examples of positive – successful Bahamian role models.”
Marlon Johnson Sr. VP of Marketing & Communications, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Eldece Clarke-Lewis, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Hon. Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture
During the luncheon, the athletes signed endorsement contracts totaling $180,000, and with the company’s previous $100,000 Olympic Games sponsorship, athlete prizes, and celebrations, BTC has invested $440,000+ in the Bahamas’ Olympic Team to date.
While this isn’t the first time BTC has endorsed professional athletes, it is the first time a swimmer has been offered a contract.
Olympic swimmer, Arianna Vanderpool Wallace said, “The life of a professional athlete is not all glitz and glamour as sometimes perceived by the public. It involves endless hours of training, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears. These endorsements are for us validation that our efforts are not going unnoticed.”
Arianna finished 8th in the finals of the women’s 50 meters freestyle at the London games. The first time a Bahamian was able to accomplish that feat.
The Hon. Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture emphasized how proud the entire country was of the Olympians and expressed how pleased he was about BTCs commitment to the athletes of the country. “We endorse what you are doing here at BTC and this is what partnerships are all about.”
Track and field legends, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Eldece Clarke-Lewis were also recognized for their achievements in athletics, as they were also presented with final endorsement checks for their time as BTC spokespersons.
The six athletes will be featured in a series of BTC ads throughout the holiday season and beyond, as well as take part in a number of public appearances throughout the Bahamas as part of their endorsement deal with the company.