–Gives 275k for National County Meet; Named Headline Sponsor
IPNEWS: In 1956, President William V.S. Tubman, the 18th president of Liberia under his National Unification Policy decided to use sports as a national reconciliation tool to unite the country, which at the time was comprised of four counties – Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Bassa and Montserrado.
President Tubman’s National Unification Policy was crafted as a tool to bring the natives and the then ‘Americo Liberians’ or sons and daughters of free slaves, who had returned to Africa under the under the auspices of the American Colonization Society (ACS), to give birth to a country called Liberia today.
As the counties, territories came together and as well as new counties were being formed to join the Republic, the need for coexistence was paramount, but the predecessors to President Tubman could not easily find an easy path; and so when Tubman succeeded president Edwin Barclay, his Open Door Policy as well as his National Unification Policy were key agendas for his administration, as he led Liberia for 27 consecutive years.
When Tubman died and his Vice President William R. Tubman succeeded him in 1971, the National County Sports Meet continued to be used as a reconciliation tool in Liberia, where Liberians put aside their religious, political, tribal differences among others to unit in one accord to support their respective counties as they compete in the National County Sports Meet.
When the military junta – the People’s Redemption Council (LPC) of Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe overthrew the True Whip Party (TWP) government, thus leading to political friction in the country, the National Count Sports Meet was also used to unify the people of Liberia. Also under the regimes of former President Charles Taylor and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the National County Sports Meet was the chief reconciliation tool to keep Liberians united.
Fast forward to 2022, the National County Sports Meet, has been named the Bicentennial Edition of the 2022 – 2023 National County Sports Meet, under the theme: “LIBERIA a NATION CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF EXISTENCE – MAINTAINING THE PEACE THROUGH WOMEN SPORTS PARTICIPATION.” Exactly 200 years after the return of free slaves that led to the establishment of the country today called Liberia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the leadership of Minister D. Zeogar Wilson, along with team, decided to continue to use the National County Sports Meet as a unifying tool as it has been over years in Liberia.
Financial Implications to Host the National County Sports Meet ‘2022/2023
History tells mankind that one of the most expensive ventures to undertake is to stage a sports festival or tournament.
The Government of Liberia, which has over the years allotted monies in the National Budget for the conduct of the National County Sports Meet, is said to have been challenged, evidenced with the tough economic situation the country faced with.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the chief organizer of the National County Sports Meet, decided to seek external sponsorship, as it has done over the years to beef up national government’s effort in funding the sporting festivals which unifies Liberia.
And so doing, during the preparation stages of the 2022-2022 National County Sports Meet, the Ministry of Youth and Sports reached out to international giant steel giant, ArcelorMittal Liberia, for sponsorship, and in keeping with its overall social corporate responsibility to the people of Liberia and the country, the company did comply to assist provide some funds for the Sports Meet.
It can be recalled in the last edition of the National County Sports Meet, ArcelorMittal Liberia provided a financial contribution of US$120,000 as Gold Sponsor.
In addition to the US$120,000 provided last year, ArcelorMittal Liberia also gave US$5,000 each to Bong, Nimba, and Grand Bassa Counties to support their teams’ participation in the National County Sports Meet.
And so for the 2022-2023 National County Sports Meet sponsorship unveiling program, held at the Royal Grand Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, G. Andy Quamie in an overview stated: “This Year Bicentennial Edition of the National County Sports Meet will be sponsored by ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Deputy Minister Quamie reiterated that National County Sports Meet started in 1956 by former President Williams V.S. Tubman and since than it has served as a way of uniting the Country.
He said the biggest sporting event in Liberia is the National County Sport Meet, this year makes it the 200 years since the return of free slaves to established that why they call it Bicentennial Edition of the National County Sports Meet.
According to Deputy Minister Quamie, “It was not easy getting to this point of securing sponsorship from ArcelorMittal but we are grateful that we got there and this is why we are here this evening to officially unveil the company as the Headline Sponsor of the 2022-2023 National County Sports Meet. We are grateful and on behalf of Liberians we say thank you to ArcelorMittal Liberia.”
Government Relations officers who also give an overview of the AML role in this year county meet said the Company had help in the area of Sports since they enter Liberia.
On his part, the Head of Government & Community Relations, Marcus Wleh giving an overview of ArcelorMittal Liberia Sports Partnership said the steel giant started sponsoring sporting activities in Liberia beginning with the Annual Marathon Race, and also contributed financially to help one of Liberia’s first division clubs, LPRC Oilers participate in a Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament.
Mr. Wleh also disclosed that early this year, ArcelorMittal Liberia launched what they called ‘Area Cup’ in the communities of the three counties they operate – Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa as part of its social corporate responsibility. And being unveiled as the Headline Sponsor of the 2022-2023 National County Sports Meet is one of main sponsorship the giant steel many is providing in Liberia’s efforts to reconcile its people through sports. “In all of our partnership it has helped us a lot and we are grateful for the level of work,” Mr. Wleh said.
As for ArcelorMittal Liberia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jozephus Coenen noted that activities of the National County Sports Meet bring into line AML’s commitment to peace, development, diversity, and inclusion. “AML has strongly supported sports around Liberia and this year, ArcelorMittal is providing 275 thousand dollars as major sponsor for National County sports meet” COENEN noted. “We celebrate our contribution to the national county sports meet and are counting on you as champions” he added.
The AML Chief Executive Officer thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the honor bestowed on his company to serve as Headline Sponsor for the county meet. He told the audience he was moved by how “unifying and motivating sport can be” and that he was “excited to be able to stand and make the donation to the people of Liberia”
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports to use the county meet as a place where talents can be spotted for football development. Senator Dillion said in time past, the County Meet was used as a major talent breeding ground for the county until it became political.
Meanwhile Senator Dillon also urged AML to follow the footprint of LAMCO by supporting or owning one of the teams in the Liberia Football Association league.
On his part, Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf in remarks said the headline sponsorship and contribution made by ArcelorMittal towards the national County Meet calls by a big celebration.
Minister Sirleaf praised ArcelorMittal’s commitment to community development and said the company has helped solved emergent disaster problem in communities far from its operational area. “On behalf of the fifteen counties and the leader of the fifteen counties who are not here, we want to appreciate you for your contribution”
Making special remarks at the event, Youth and Sports Minister D. Zeogar Wilson acknowledged how historic the day was for the government, stating two years ago they engaged ArcelorMittal Liberia and after continuous discussions AML consented to sponsor the counties in which they operate.
Ministry Wilson officially announced ArcelorMittal Liberia as the Headline Sponsor for this year’s National County Sports Meet. The Ministry disclosed the company has made available US$275 thousand. AML sponsorship accounts for the biggest sponsorship contribution since the establishment of the National County Sports meet in its commencement.
According to Minister Wilson, out of the US$275,000, the MYS will receive US$250,000 for the conduct of the tournament, while the balance US$25,000 goes to Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties where ArcelorMittal Liberia operates. He stated Nimba will receive US$10,000; Bong and Bassa will receive US$7,500 respectively out of the US$25,000. “We will ensure the three counties receive their various cheques with 10 thousand to be given to Nimba and 7,500 each to Bassa and Bong counties respectively,”
The MYS boss further stated that Orange Liberia remains a very good partner and sponsor of the County Meet, but ArcelorMittal Liberia is this year’s Headline Sponsor.
Meanwhile, Minister Wilson disclosed the organizing committee has decided to give each county US$5,000 as preparation monies for their respective participation in the 2022-2023 National County Sports Meet.
Minister of Sports Zeogar Wilson noted the unveiling of AML marked a historical day for the national county sports meet under the CDC-led government.
“Two years ago, we engaged ArcelorMittal for sponsorship and at that time we were told they will provide sponsorship to the three affected counties. We accepted and we didn’t turn our backs on them.”
He said the Youth and Sports Ministry engaged the global steel giant and this year the company decided to take “a giant step”. “Today, it is my distinguished honor to announce to the people of Liberia that ArcelorMittal is the Prime (Headline) Sponsor for the National County Sports Meet”.
The National County Sports Meet starts November 17, 2022, with Grand Bassa County the official host.
