Tuesday, 1 March 2011 – Road Town, Tortola: In an effort to raise the profile of the sport of kite boarding in the BVI, Digicel today announced sponsorship of a local rider, Christopher Brockbank, a 17 year old Cedar International School student.

Brockbank, who is being branded as a Digicel Rider, is taking part in the Billabong BVI Kite Jam, now underway.

“I have been interested in water sports since I was 6 years old and have been kiting now for about a year and a half on Tortola, Nanny Cay and Long Bay, Beef Island,” he stated. While Brockbank admits that kite boarding is not a popular sport in the BVI, he says a lot more people are becoming interested.

“I am certainly excited about competing in Kite Jam for the second year running,” he continued. “I think it is awesome; the sense of competition will help me progress further, coming up against the pros. I am doing all of the races.”

Alan Bates, CEO of Digicel, official Telecommunications Partner and Sponsor of the Billabong BVI Kite Jam 2011, said Digicel is proud once again to be associated with the hosting of this amazing event that aims to bring attention to the Territory as a leading kite boarding destination. “Digicel is also very proud this year to support the only local kite boarder in the competition and we wish Chris all the very best and encourage other local enthusiasts to experience this remarkable sport.”

Billabong BVI Kite Jam is the first kite boarding event ever held in the British Virgin Islands. It is open to amateurs, professionals and spectators and is now in its second year. The event was conceived by Charlie Smith and Sir Richard Branson after a 20 mile kite crossing from Necker Island to Anegada.

The week-long event, February 26 to March 4, is packed full of freestyle, sliders, big air, wave riding and long distance racing, all in some of the windiest and most spectacular locations in the world, such as North Sound, Virgin Gorda; Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island; Anegada and Eustatia Sound.

Ends…

About Digicel

After nine and a half years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11.5 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

In 2004, Digicel developed Digicel Rising Stars – an annual talent show to support aspiring young music artists in the Caribbean. The show has spanned the Eastern Caribbean, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago ranking as one of the top-rated shows.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com  for more information.

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