… Harris looking for continuity
FOLLOWING her ascendancy to the stewardship of the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) two years ago, Fiona Harris is looking to continue the work she has started along with implementing her new ideas. The GABBFF will host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of office-bearers this Sunday at Olympic House on High Street, where Harris is expected to deliver her report.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport yesterday, the 34-year-old Harris, who had replaced Frank Tucker after receiving 22 votes while her rivals Clifton Rolex got nine and Mark Sinclair of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) had five, said she was available to serve if the members have the same vote of confidence.
“Two years ago, the GABBFF membership expressed a unanimous vote of confidence in me by electing me to head the Federation and while I must say that it was a pleasure heading the body, especially with the state of affairs it was in, however it is the decision of the membership, if they so desire to grant us a second term, we are available and willing to continue the work which we started.”
Having defeated both Sinclair and Rolex, Harris used the services of her opponents who served under her stewardship in the capacity of vice-president and secretary respectively, a relationship she felt worked for the GABBFF.
“The year 2010 was more or less, focused on house-cleaning, taking into account there was a lot of work to be done, while we took last year to implement the plans we had in mind. This time around, we are seeking continuity even as we introduce some new ideas, as we feel the GABBFF is somewhere closer to where we want it to be. We have made considerable inroads and hope that the incumbent committee continues the work we have started,” stated Harris.
One of the things that Harris has targeted is the return of the Flex Night competition which incorporates the Ms Best Legs, which was the brainchild of Mr Donald Sinclair, who in his own rights was a formidable past president of the GABBFF.
A smiling Harris recounted the last Flex Night competition she participated in six years ago, when she carted off the Ms Best Legs title and is eagerly looking forward to handing over such a title to another female bodybuilder, only if she retains her post at the helm of the GABBFF.
“There is so much we have in mind to do for the sport once we have been re-elected, starting with the Flex Night competition which will be a domestic competition firstly held in the three counties of Guyana and ending in an international invitational for the grand finale.
We also have plans to boost our technical support and athlete welfare platform, by way of courses and seminars.
Added to that, there are the Novices and Intermediate tournaments which were jointly held on one night. However, based on the numbers we have seen competing for the past two years, we will be looking to have both competitions held separately, with March being targeted as the month for the hosting of the Novices competition and May for the Intermediate,” said Harris.
She added, “We are also looking at decentralising the sport of bodybuilding and fitness, by having a much bigger and better Mr West Demerara and possibly a Mr Berbice competition.
Our aim is to take the sport to the people and once we can accomplish that, then we cannot only have the popularity of the sport increased, but also encourage others to join the sport which in its own right, can be used to help fight off several non-communicable diseases, such as obesity.”
Harris, who in her own right held the title of the Ms Guyana before serving the GABBFF in the capacity of treasurer, is looking to make her second term a memorable one not only for her executives, but the athletes as well, since she feels they are the important spoke in the wheel of progress.
“We have the interests of the athletes at heart. We want to make sure that they are comfortable, so for my executives and me, our priority lies with the athletes, and giving them as much exposure as possible.
I must say thanks to Corporate Guyana who have thrown their support behind us, some at late notice, while we look forward to working with them and those who are interested in coming on board with us, in the future,” concluded Harris.