Jamaica Women's Bobsled Team Saved by Beer Company

The Jamaican Women’s Bobsled Team was saved by Red Stripe beer company when the retailer bought a new sled for the team to use in Olympic competition.

The team was left without a sled when their driver coach Sandra Kiriasis left the team, USA Today reported. Kiriasis, a former Olympic gold-medal winner from Germany, had gotten sponsors for the team and had rented their sled, but wanted the team to pay her for its use.

Kiriasis claimed on Facebook that she was asked to change her role on the team to a “track and performance analyst,” and had decided not to continue as a part of the team. 

When Red Stripe USA, which is brewed in Kingston, Jamaica, found out the bobsled team didn’t have a sled for the competition, it tweeted that the team could put their sled “on @RedStripe’s tab.” Subsequent tweets made it clear the offer was a serious one, and the team was only too happy to accept the generous offer, USA Today reported.

No bobsled, no problem. If you need a new ride @Jambobsled, put it on @RedStripe’s tab. DM us and we’ll be in touch 👌🍻

— Red Stripe USA (@RedStripeUSA) February 15, 2018

CBS Sports said an Olympic bobsled could cost up to $50,000.

This year’s team is the first women’s bobsled team from Jamaica that will compete in the Olympics. Training runs will begin Saturday and the events will be early next week.

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