DIRECTOR of Sports within the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar last Friday night told his audience which included President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony and Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, the year 2011 was a hectic one for the NSC. “As we reflect on the development of sports in Guyana, we are indeed proud of the fact that the year 2011 was an exceptionally special year.
The commissioning of the Olympic-size swimming pool is a magnificent reality and our top swimmers have already begun to make full use of this facility and the racquet centre on Woolford Avenue saw the first stage of realising two grand squash courts and a double lawn tennis courts,” said Kumar.
He added, “Thanks to the synergies between the Ministry of Sport and the Guyana Volleyball Federation, we have a new floor at the National Gymnasium and during 2011, we enhanced 17 community centres and playing areas around the country.
“For the first time, Guyana participated at the ALBA Games in Venezuela where we won 11 medals. However and most importantly is the performance of sprinter Winston George who has already qualified to compete in the London 2012 Olympics, while young Imran Khan’s performance makes him an Olympic hopeful. He is joint Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year 2011.”
Highlighting the fact that over G$1B was budgeted for the development of sports in Guyana during 2011, another testimony of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic‘s interest in the development of sports, Kumar said 10 well-organised Days of Interaction were held around the country where over 27 000 persons participated.
He pointed to the performance of the athletes at the Inter-Guiana Games, while making mention of the construction of the synthetic track at Leonora as another example, whose completion is anticipated by the athletics fraternity, as it gives them an opportunity to have their athletes train and compete on a world class track.
“The year 2011 has been very hectic but at the same time, highly successful and rewarding for the individuals within the sporting community, as it exceeded a lot of expectations, with many villages receiving sports equipment which would further encourage participation in sporting activities,” said Kumar.
“Today we can boast that several sports associations and federations are performing at a very high level, with the Guyana Table Tennis Association and the Guyana Chess Federation being two examples of this, as they have shown great improvement.
The great strides made in the past year, leaves me to believe that Guyana will be dominating the Caribbean and further afield in the very near future, in sports” stated Kumar.
He said the NSC recognises that some national associations are doing their best to improve their performances both locally and internationally, to which the NSC will be collaborating with the Ministry of Sport, to ensure this drive continues among all the associations.
He said the NSC appreciates the efforts of the sportsmen and women of Guyana and encourage them to do their best at all times, striving for greater heights, for themselves, club and country, while serving as a perfect example for others to follow.
“We are proud of you; we admire you for your achievements, sometimes under difficult circumstances. We appreciate you for your efforts and we encourage you to do of your best for yourself, your club and association and most of all, for your country.
“The awards you are receiving tonight do not signify an end, but rather the beginning of another journey. As an honoured person, you must lead by example. You must encourage others around you to strive only for greater heights.
“Your life as an honoured athlete must be one of respect, commitment, humility and admiration. Through you, others must view sports as not another pastime, but one wherein they can build discipline and self-confidence” said Kumar.
Kumar charged the awardees, not to see their awards as a means of admiration, but rather a motivation to take up the mantle of leadership and role model in society, while making Guyana a more competitive country in sports.
Apart from the list of national sports awardees listed below of which 10-year-old Priyanna Ramdhani created history by being the youngest awardee, sports administrators within the 10 Administrative Regions, were given special awards by the NSC and MCYS.

The individual awardees are as follows: Sportsman-of-the-Year – Devendra Bishoo, Sportswoman-of-the-Year – Dawn McAlmont-Barker, Runner-up Sportsman – Randolph Morgan, Runner-up Sportswoman – Trenace Lowe, Junior Sportsman – Imran Khan and Nigel Bryan, Junior Sportswoman – Priyanna Ramdhani, Runner-up Junior Sportswoman – Jevina Straker.

Sports Team – Golden Jaguars, Sports Coach – Hassan Mohammed, Female Sports Official – Cheryl Thompson, Sports Association – Guyana Table Tennis Association,

Most Improved Association – Guyana Chess Federation, Sports Journalist (Print) – Edison Jefford, (Non-Print) – Avenash Ramzan, Photographer – Orlando Charles

Person with Disability – Delroy Sookram and his runner-up Walter Grant-Stuart.