The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ACCOLADES continue to pour in for the Olympic medal winning “Golden Knights,” and following a visit to the House of Assembly yesterday, the team received what is sure to be the first of many incentives.

Bank of the Bahamas (BOB) became the first corporate sponsor to reward the men’s 4x400 metre relay team of Chris “Fireman” Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon “Fearless” Miller when they presented the quartet with a $12,000 cheque.

BOB partnered with the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) to sponsor the relay team with a $10,000 donation on July 13.

“You made an entire nation proud,” said Vaughn Delaney, the bank’s deputy managing director.

“We watched each of you, Chris, Demetrius, Michael and Ramon, with our hearts in our throats and our hopes in you - and you delivered. We at BOB are proud to deliver to you in return, as we promised, keeping our commitment of a $10,000 sponsorship for the team and an appeal that raised another $2,000.

“Just as important as our commitment to support the team with a $10,000 contribution, we spearheaded a drive to raise money for the team and the BAAA organising efforts. We wanted each of you to know you were not out there alone, you had an entire country behind you cheering you on.”

Said BAAA executive Shervin Stuart: “It meant so much to all of us and especially to the team that an award winning bank like BOB put its faith in what they believed had the talent and drive to be an award winning track team. It gave us that extra boost and we are very grateful.

The Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) made a presentation of their own to Prime Minister Perry Christie following the visit to the House of Assembly yesterday.

Team Bahamas is expected to continue its whirlwind tour with a courtesy call on Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes 11am today, followed by a 1pm luncheon with Christie.

“We just want to thank the entire country for their support,” said Brown. “It means a lot to us. It has been a long road to get here, it took hard work, dedication, but it paid off and we were happy that through the grace of God we were able to be successful and give the country something to be proud of.”