What some might call a dream on the part of the National Sports Commission (NSC) is almost a reality as the National Athletes’ Database has rounded into its homestretch. The nearly-completed database was showcased at a press conference on Thursday at the NSC, with members of the media being able to view and access it.

It was with elation Director of Sport Christopher Jones, Assistant Director of Sport Melissa Richardson, Commissioner Edison Jefford and Intellect Storms’ Information Systems Architect Rowen Willabus unveiled the project that had an initial startup cost of GYD 2.8 million.
According to Jones, the NSC is still waiting on some of the sport associations and federations to submit the information and stats they have on athletes. He cited the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) as one association that readily made their data available when called upon. Jones also added “Along with the database, we will have a facebook page that is geared towards getting those who are most involved in sports up to date with what is going on.”
There were also talk of having the 15 Guyana Teachers’ Union districts active on the database. The districts would have their schools included with special focus being on talent in the upcoming National Schools’ Championships.
It was at this point that Willabus took over before demonstrating how to find names on the database as well as what the database currently holds. “I think it’s a great initiative by NSC to chronicle data regarding the information.” The database currently holds all the sportsmen and sportswomen of the year from 1955 and according to Jones, data will be pulled from any and all sources.
“The challenge facing us is where could you access information and confirm its accuracy. We will be cross-referencing and ensuring it’s the most accurate,” said Jones. He added that the accuracy of data would aid in associations choosing athletes to send abroad since the best athlete would be chosen to represent Guyana.
The database will also hold association and federation information inclusive of the associations’ by laws and election dates. “We at the NSC will have this information and will send out messages to these associations to remind them of elections and if the constitution isn’t followed we will not be providing funding for these associations.”
The database is expected to be available to the public as soon as next week if every association makes available there information to the NSC.