GUYANA’S former 400 metres specialist Aliann Pompey has been elected as a member of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) Athlete Commission.The announcement was made on Sunday during the final day of the 2015 Pan Am Games which ended here with much pomp and fanfare.
Pompey, who served as manager/coach to Guyana’s three-member athletic team to the games, is among the four new members who will serve on the commission for the next eight years. Apart from Pompey, whose portfolio falls under athletics, the other members are Adrian Escobar of El Salvador (rowing), Carlos J. Santiago Alicea of Puerto Rico (judo) and Thiago Pereira of Brazil (swimming).
Speaking at Sunday’s press conference, president of the PASO Athletes Commission, Alexandra Orlando, said she was thrilled to announce the success of the second athlete election that was held throughout the games, which started on July 12.
The first-ever PASO Athlete Commission was established in 2011 at the Guadalajara Pan American Games and according to Orlando, she and two members of that Commission, Andrea Muralles from Guatemala and Mijain Lopez from Cuba will continue to serve the Commission until 2019. Vice-Chair Guillermo Perez Sandoval from Mexico was unable to attend Sunday’s meeting.
Orlando pointed out that “it has been an absolute incredible experience for all the participating athletes who have represented their countries so well – and they have felt the warmth and hospitality of the Canadian people across the region.
“Today, as PASO Athlete Commission Chair, “our mission as an Athlete Commission is to be a strong voice for the athletes within the Pan American Sport Organisation. We ensure that the athlete’s point of view is taken into consideration in PASO’s decisions through our roles on the Executive Council and additional commissions.”
Orlando further pointed out that the commission works closely with the International Olympic Committee and other Continental Athlete Commissions to share information, knowledge and enhance programming across the region for athletes to excel on and off the field of play. “We also work closely with the organising committees for the Pan American Games to help them better the needs of the athletes.”
The commission elects four members that are elected by their respective National Olympic Committees and they serve an eight-year term. That allows for a successful transition and consistency of work. This year, the commission received nine nominations from the respective committees.
Pompey won the gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and also won at the 2003 Pan American Games. She holds the South American indoor record for the 400 metres.
She participated at the World Championships in Athletics in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 as well as the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) World Indoor Championships in 2001, 2003 2006 and 2010 and the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008.. Her personal best time is 50.71 seconds, achieved in August 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.