Jamaican bobsledders get financial push from oilsands firm

The owner ofa northernAlbertaoilsands company is getting in the Olympic spirit by sponsoring theJamaican bobsleigh team.

"When I first saw the (1993) movie CoolRunnings, ...I said you know these guys are really working hard and if I ever had an opportunity to buy them a sled I would," said Vern Janvier, owner of CP Services and chief of the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation south of Fort McMurray.

• Infamous Winter Olympians: Jamaican bobsled team
• Bobsleigh - Sochi 2014 - CBC Sports - CBC Olympics

That opportunity came about two weeks ago, he said.

"The day Jamaica qualified for the Olympics, they put an ad out in the media that theywerebroke and looking for sponsors," he said.

Janvier and a friend found the team's contact information on the internet and sent an email.

In the meantime electronics-giant Samsung;dogecoin, a virtual currency community;and social mediafundraising website Crowdtilt also got in touch, raising enough money for the team to go to the Sochi Olympics.

• Jamaican bobsled team gets $30K in dogecoin for Sochi Olympics

When Janvier heard back from the team, he was told the team is financially set for now, but could use a long-term sponsor.

He jumped at the chance.

"It's not every day you get to be involved with an Olympicteam and be able to sponsor them and promote them and also promote myself in the matter at thesame time."

CP Services has signed a four-year deal with the team worth around $35,000 per year. Janvierisalsolooking at providing a new sled,whichcould run a cool $100,000.

A few days ago Janvierflew down to Wyomingto meet the team.

He spent two days with them.

"They're very strong athletic-wiseand team oriented ... happy go lucky," he said. "It was anhonour to be with them."

Sponsoring sports is not new to him, Janvier said.

"We sponsor a lot of things. I really don't hang on to my money as I should. I sponsor a lot of hockey ... a lot of sled racing,mud racing. I try to get young people to do something else with their lives rather than hanging around and playing ... PlayStation."

Janvier's companylogo is now on the team'stracksuits although athletesare only allowed to wear those around the village, due to Olympicsponsorship rights.

While Janvier is not heading to Sochi to watch the team, he'll be looking out for themon CBC TV.