WHITESTONE, August 31, 2021 (Guest Post)
BODYARMOR LYTE, the Official Sports Drink of the US Open Tennis Championships, and Naomi Osaka, four-time Grand Slam champion, celebrate the unveil of Osaka’s newly refurbished childhood tennis courts at Detective Keith L. Williams Park in Jamaica, Queens. In 2020, the brand committed to refurbishing the tennis court facilities as a way to bring its US Open partnership to life beyond the tournament and inspire young athletes in the local Queens community where Osaka got her start.
In addition to a complete overhaul of the actual tennis facilities, BODYARMOR collaborated with Naomi’s sister, Mari Osaka on the development of a bold artwork bordering the courts that incorporates colors and symbols that are meaningful to the tennis champion. To bring Naomi and Mari’s creative vision to life, BODYARMOR tapped New York graffiti artist, MASTERPIECE NYC, who helped embody the vibrant spirit of the community.
“I’ve seen first-hand how playing sports can have a positive impact on kid’s lives,” said Naomi Osaka. “It’s been extremely gratifying to collaborate with BODYARMOR on revitalizing the very same tennis courts that I grew up playing on. And the fact that BODYARMOR is also a Queens based company makes this initiative even cooler and more meaningful to me. The update to these courts means so much – local high schools use these for practice and competitions, the community comes here to play – the benefits will be long lasting.”
“Through our partnership with Naomi Osaka, BODYARMOR has been able to give back to the Queens community, which holds a special place in our hearts,” said Michael Fedele, Vice President of Marketing at BODYARMOR. “Being able to support this project is much bigger than the renovation itself. With the new courts, we’re not only able to provide an upgraded facility for the next generation of tennis players, we’re also investing in the future of the community we also call home.”
To officially unveil the new courts, BODYARMOR will be teaming up with Naomi Osaka’s foundation, Play Academy, to host “LYTE Up the Courts” – a youth tennis clinic featuring participants from New York-based tennis organizations. Throughout the day, the kids will run through several drills working on groundstrokes, volleys and serves. They will also play competitive games and Osaka will be on-hand lending her expertise and offering tips, encouraging the next generation to continue to play sports.
An extension of BODYARMOR Sports Drink, BODYARMOR LYTE offers a low calorie, no sugar added premium sports drink option with potassium-packed electrolytes, antioxidants, and coconut water. The brand knows that consumers and athletes, are looking for better-for-you options when it comes to sports drinks, as health and wellness trends continue to rise. In 2020, BODYARMOR LYTE announced its milestone multiyear partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) which named BODYARMOR LYTE as the Official Sports Drink of the US Open Tennis Championships.
