The 43rd Western Relays was launched at the Deja All-Inclusive Resort on the Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay on Tuesday without its long-time sponsor Milo. The meet set for Saturday, February 12, is scheduled to begin at 100:00 am and end at 5:00 PM at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine.
There will be a reduced number of events at this year’s staging because of Covid-related restrictions that include no spectators. Arising from the development, the organizers have arranged to stream the meet live on the TrackAlerts YouTube channel.
The events on the schedule this year include 100m, 400m, 4x100m relays, 4x400m relays, 4x800m relays and the Sprint Medley Relay.
Regarding the absence of the usual title sponsor, Chairman of the Organizing Committee Ray Harvey said that a number of sponsors have come on board to make up for some of the shortfalls of funds to stage a successful but scaled-down version of the meet.
He said he was pleased that the meet was able to return to the calendar for the 2022 season.
"The fact that we didn't have our meet last year told us we should have our meet this year. We did not want to have the two-year hiatus,” Harvey said.
“We have been away from Montego Bay for four years now but that is acceptable but having no meet in is not acceptable. So despite the early setback of not having Milo's sponsorship we were determined that the 2022 Western Relays should take place.”
Among the sponsors that have come aboard is the Sports Development Foundation (SDF).
"The history of the event speaks for itself. When I got the call and I took it to the board, there wasn't any great convincing,” said SDF General Manager Denzil Wilks.
“We all knew what this thing was all about and when we were told that the major sponsor dropped out, we recognized immediately that we couldn't let this one fall by the wayside.”
The Jamaica Olympic Association's (JOA) has also come on board to provide financial support for the meet.
"We are very pleased to be a part of the Western Relays. We think it’s an important event for the West because it provides the opportunity for young people not only to demonstrate their athletic prowess but also to be educated and grow with the meet in statue,” said President Christopher Samuda.
“We came on board in response to a need and we always respond to needs. We interface directly with our member associations but certainly when a brief is given to us and we understand that there is a need then we respond positively. “
Also among the sponsors are WATA, Powerade, Custom Marble, Trackalerts, Gibson McCook Relays, World-Class Athletics and On Di Run Events Managements as well as some of Ray Harvey's batch-mates at Nebraska University.