Puma Keeps Lightning Bolt On Payroll
August 25, 2010
CaribWorldNews, PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Weds. Aug. 25, 2010: Olympic sprint champion Usain Lightning Bolt may be out until the end of 2013, but main sponsor Puma, is keeping him on their payroll. Puma first sponsored Bolt in 2003 when he was aged 16. The sporting goods maker, which also outfits Jamaica`s bobsled team, this year introduced the `Bolt Collection,` a range of apparel, footwear and accessories co-designed with the sprinter. On Tuesday, Puma, a Germany-based company, said Bolt will play a `pivotal role` in the company`s marketing for the 2012 London Olympics. The value of the new contract is `by far the largest ever given to a track field athlete,` Puma said, without providing a figure. Puma said last year that the 100-meter and 200-meter world records set by Bolt during the Berlin world championships had `media value` for the company of more than $105 million, an amount it would have to spend for similar exposure from regular advertising.`He`s shined a global spotlight on the sport,` the company said in a statement. `We`re not sure he`s even hit his top gear yet.`
