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Scotiabank Sends Jamaicans to Tokyo as Ambassador Atsumi Rallies Support for 2025 World Championships
Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in Athletics. | 23 May 2025 | 3553 Views
Tags: Ticket to Tokyo, Ambassador Yasuhiro Atsumi, Audrey Tugwell Henry, Shamair Bramwell

With anticipation building for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 21, Scotiabank Jamaica launched its ‘Ticket to Tokyo’ campaign on Wednesday night at the Scotia Centre in Kingston. The event featured remarks from the Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi, who underscored the deepening ties between the two nations through sport and diplomacy.

Addressing guests at the event, Ambassador Atsumi expressed excitement about Japan’s third time hosting the global athletics showpiece, having previously done so in Tokyo in 1991 and Osaka in 2007.

“I am so excited and thrilled that Japan is going to host the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 21 this year,” Ambassador Atsumi said. “More than 2,000 top athletes from all over the world, including our own great Team Jamaica, will compete for their place in athletics history at the state-of-the-art Japan National Stadium.”

He also confirmed that Team Jamaica will be based in Tottori Prefecture for their pre-championship training camp—a region with a sister-city relationship with Jamaica’s Westmoreland Parish.

- Marlon Reid photo

President and CEO Scotiabank Jamaica Audrey Tugwell Henry and Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi at the launch of the Ticket to Tokyo promotion on Wednesday night,

Anticipating another strong showing from the Caribbean powerhouse, the Ambassador noted, “I watched the last World Athletics Championships in Budapest on TV. Jamaica performed very well and earned 12 medals in total, second only to the United States. Unfortunately, at the Paris Olympic Games last year, Jamaica did not perform as well by their high standards. But this time in Tokyo, I am confident that Jamaica will shine and dominate the track and field.”

The Ambassador also welcomed Jamaica’s commitment to relay events, revealing plans to field teams in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as in the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m events.

Meanwhile, Scotiabank is giving Jamaican credit card customers the opportunity to experience the Championships in person through its ‘Ticket to Tokyo’ promotion. The initiative will see two lucky winners, each with a guest, flown to Tokyo on an all-expense-paid trip.

Shamair Bramwell

“It’s an exciting promotion,” said Shamair Bramwell, Product Manager of Credit Card Life Cycle at Scotiabank. “We’ve looked at how we can enhance our experience for our credit card holders, and this time around we’re taking them to Tokyo. And there could be some athletic experiences in it as well.”

To qualify, customers must spend at least $50,000 on their Scotiabank credit card during the campaign period. Every $50,000 spent earns one entry into the draw, which will take place approximately a week after the campaign ends on July 7.

“This year we’re sending four people—two winners and their guests—to Tokyo. We do campaigns like this every year, and in the past, we’ve taken customers to Greece, Italy, Coldplay and Taylor Swift concerts, and even the U.S. for the F1 race,” Bramwell explained. “We listen to our clients, see what their needs are, and try to make their dreams come true.”

Ambassador Atsumi closed his remarks by thanking Scotiabank Jamaica for supporting the campaign and reiterated Japan’s enthusiasm in hosting visitors from Jamaica for both the Championships and Expo Osaka 2025. “Through public and private partnerships, our friendship between Japan and Jamaica has developed and deepened,” he said. “With your kind cooperation, I look forward to continuing this relationship.”

Marlon Reid photos