By NAN Staff Writer
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 12, 2016: Belize may be getting a bad rap globally for its crime rates but the country’s tourist board scored pure marketing gold Thursday night with a tweet that invited US 2016 Olympic individual all-around gymnastic champion Simone Biles and her teammates to the Central American nation.
After Biles’ spectacular wins on Thursday, August 11th, the Belize Tourist Board tweeted: “Congrats @simone_biles! Belize is so proud of you. We’d love to host you and the entire #FinalFive on a vacation once you’re ready to relax.”
To which Biles responded: “my second home, you betta belize we’re coming .”
The Board then replied: “Wonderful. We’re looking forward to your visit! In the meantime, best of luck from everyone in Belize. ”
Turns out the Columbus, Ohio-born Biles, 19, actually holds Belizean citizenship as well because her adopted mother, Nellie Biles was born in the CARICOM nation’s capital of Belize City.
“We are taking all the gold medals she is going to win,” Kim Simplis Barrow, 44, the first lady of Belize, said after Biles’ incredible wins Thursday.
The Board’s skillful marketing promotion actually got covered in several media outlets including NBC.
Biles is the first woman to win three consecutive world all-around titles and is also the most decorated American female gymnast in World Championships history, with a total of fourteen medals, ten of them gold.
The other four members of Team USA that Belize is also hoping to host includes Gabrielle Douglas, Alexandra Raisman, Madison Kocian, and sixteen-year-old Puerto-Rico roots Laurie Hernandez.
