Sports View by Neil Kumar
IN recent years the Government of Guyana has been spearheading a campaign to refurbish, update and maintain the existing sporting infrastructure of our country. This countrywide campaign has included the refurbishing of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the resurfacing of the cycling track at the National Park, the resurfacing of the motor racing track at Timehri and many other similar around the country.
However, our focus has not been solely on our existing facilities. We have also been working on establishing new sporting facilities, which, in many cases, have been (or will be) the first of their kind in Guyana.
Today, thanks to President Bharrat Jagdeo we can show to the world that we have a multi-purpose outdoor stadium, the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.  The Providence stadium is now regarded as one of the best cricket stadiums in the Caribbean.
However, cricket is not the only sport discipline that benefits from this facility, Footballers can also enjoy the same facility for international football encounters. This facility also hosts international boxing and rugby tournaments.  The Guyana National Stadium also hosts track and field, hockey, cultural, religious and social events.
Phase One of the National Track and Field Facilities is nearing completion. The initiation of Phase Two, which includes the building of a synthetic track by the German company Rugupol, is imminent.
The National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, Turkeyen, the first-ever Olympic-size international swimming pool is today a reality in Guyana.  President Bharrat Jagdeo kept his promise, and today, Guyanese can boast about our state-of-the-art International Swimming Pool.
This marks yet another great change in the sport of swimming that has been overseen by the PPP/C Government.
I remember the first of these changes well…
Swimming was dormant for many years, since the closing of Luckhoo Pool.   With the return of democracy in 1992, our swimming fraternity received a new breath of life as they were given an opportunity to swim in several pools that were previously reserved for the elite.
The Colgrain Pool and the Castellani Pool were opened up to the swimming clubs.  Hence, the resuscitation of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA).
Our swimmers were restricted to swimming in the rivers, creeks, trenches while the elites particularly with the Paramountcy of Party were given access to the few swimming pools available.
Representations were made and Cheddi Jagan was quick to give permission to the coaches such as Collin Tappin and Stephanie Fraser to make good use of the available swimming facilities at our disposal.
Clubs and National Swimming Associations received springs in their arms and legs and swimming was again in the repertoire of our local land of many waters. The swimming across Demerara River and the Triathlon were two other significant swimming events that also came into action.
The Goodwill Games between Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago was a new event for our swimmers. Subsequently, our young swimmers then made strong representations and were given the opportunity to represent Guyana at the Inter-Guianas Games.
Today, Guyanese swimmers are winning gold medals at the Goodwill Games and the Inter-Guiana Games. Further, with those limited facilities, we participated in the Junior Carifta Games, and World Games.  For the first time we also had one swimmer at the last Olympic Games.
This new state-of-the-art swimming pool is now open to our top swimmers. Our coaches, clubs and the swimming fraternity are moving forward to make the fullest use of this facility to prepare for the challenges at International meetings.
Unfortunately, neither our colonial masters, nor the previous political administrations recognised our Sportsmen and Sportswomen.  We were never given a World Class facility for any sport discipline.
The effort to build this pool was indeed a genuine national effort, led by His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, who made the necessary funds available during a period when the world was facing financial crisis.
Synergies between the Office of the President, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are what made this achievement possible.
The remarkable efforts of Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and numerous representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association must also be lauded.
Our swimmers have come a far way from the simpler swimming facilities previously available to them. Therefore, it is expected that our swimmers will make tremendous progress as they utilise this new world class facility to prepare for the challenges at the international swimming meets.
The Guyana Swimming Association must now ensure that they prove themselves equal to the challenges ahead. They must now produce a short-term, medium-term and long-term developmental programme so that we can have systems in place for our swimmers to achieve greatness and bring glory to our great nation.
Our swimmers must aim for gold medals at the Olympics. The Brazil Olympics must be the Olympic Games where Guyanese must desperately go hunting for gold.
However, it should be noted that the new facility at Liliendaal will be much more than the home for the Guyana National Swimming Team.
Swimming clubs, schools and other associations will also have access to this facility. The National Aquatic Centre will be available during the day for special “SwimFit” programmes and the facility will be made available to other sports organisations for strength and conditioning programmes. Additionally, the site will be the new venue for hosting National, Regional and International swimming competitions.
This new facility will also give Guyanese the chance to participate in synchronised swimming and water polo. Guyana has never been represented internationally in either of these disciplines, but now there is an opportunity waiting to be grasped by our country’s youth.
The Government of Guyana has plans to establish the National Aquatic Centre as a teaching facility which will offer courses to persons interested in becoming officials, referees or coaches.
It should be noted that there is room for expansion at the new Liliendaal facility and President Jagdeo has pledged $25M towards the establishment of a warm-up pool.
It has indeed been a pleasure watching the Development of Sports in Guyana over the last few years and I look forward with great anticipation to what the future will bring.
Our sport administrators must work together for us to make maximum use of the various facilities. Today, our young athletes must be encouraged to prepare themselves for winning gold at international events.