New Hyundai wheels for cycling

THE IMAGE of an obviously underprivileged young boy on his bike, devoid of a chain and tyres in the rural seaside village of Mayaro has been etched indelibly in the mind of track cycling star Michael Phillips.

On Thursday, Phillips, now head of Phillips Promotions Company Limited, revealed that the memorable encounter several years ago on a ride seeking out idyllic scenes as subjects for his other hobby —-painting— has fuelled his desire to create opportunities for youngsters to attain their dreams through sport. “The bike is still the most requested gift for children at Christmas time. This is evidenced by the big business bike shops do at that time,” said an emotional Phillips at Mel’s Automotive, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain. Occasion was the presentation of a Hyundai H100 GLS six-seater panel van, outfitted with a bike rack, to Phillips Promotions to transport bicycles for the schools cycling programme; and to announce the company’s status as a “silver sponsor” in the upcoming Beacon Insurance West Indies versus The World series.

Present were Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes; Raymond Evans, Operations Manager, Mel’s Auto-motive; Osman Syne, Chief Executive Officer, Neal and Masy Autmotive; and Ian Arrindell, Vehicle Sales Director. Phillips said the vehicle will also be used in the schools’ initiative for swimming, gymnastics and hockey. He was full of praise for the businessmen at Mel’s Automotive and the parent company, Neal and Massy, who he said quickly realised the potential of his proposal and had no hesitation in coming on board. CEO Syne traced Hyundai’s involvement in sport from 1988, as an official sponsor of the Seoul Olympic Games to last year at the FIFA World Cup staged in South Korea/Japan. He said Hyundai will also be involved in the 2006 World Cup football tournament in Germany. At home Syne said the company was  a financial backer of the Under-17 World Championships staged in Trinidad and Tobago and has, since 1994, been sponsoring the Maracas Cross-Harbour Swim. “We are committed to driving cycling forward,” said Syne adding that a Hyundai Sante Fe 4X4 will be one of the pace vehicles for the first event in the Beacon West Indies versus The World race, a 14-lap night race around the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain on April 9 from 8 pm.

Minister Boynes was effusive in praise for Mel’s Automotive hailing their decision to get involved in the efforts of Phillips to provide opportunities for young people in sport. Boynes pledged his government’s support and appealed to other business entities to follow the lead taken by Mel’s Automotive. Recalling the government’s budget measure of a 150 per cent rebate on sponsorship of sports event under $450,000, Boynes admitted the political administration cannot go it alone but needs the input of other coporate bodies to really make a difference. Also attending Thursday’s function was the Cuban team here for the Southern Games this weekend and the upcoming Beacon series. They comprise coach Hector Ruiz, Julio Cesar Herrera, former world junior sprint champion; Michel Pedrosa Merino, Cuba’s kilometre time trial champion and points title-holder, Joel Marino. Coach Ruiz said the team recently competed in the World Cup in Mexico and is using their stint here as preparation for the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo in August. “We are ready and aim to do well,” Ruiz said.