PRIOR to their departure, Guyana’s Olympic team paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) where they met with the Director of Sport Neil Kumar and Permanent Secretary Alfred King, in the absence of Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony. Sitting in the office of Dr Anthony, King apologised to the team for his absence but gave them his best wishes.
Absent from the team that will be attending the London 2012 Olympic Games were foreign-based athletes Aliann Pompey and Jeremy Bascom and president of the AAG Colin Boyce.
King ensured the team that they had the full support of the Ministry and he assured them that the nation supported them as well.
He said: “What I would like you athletes to recognise is how important your participation is, so it is expected that you do your best. I know it had to be determination and discipline that got you this far and we would like to see you display it out there and hopefully have some positive returns.”
The Permanent Secretary also congratulated the associations who had athletes who made it to the team.
Neil Kumar shared his best wishes to the team. He noted that he had been paying keen attention to locally based track qualifier Winston George and Brittany Van Lange. Ending his brief remarks he said that he supports the team fully and is certain that they would do well.
Dr Pilgrim, responding to the two Ministry officials, thanked them for their words of encouragement and assured them and the rest of the nation that the team will put their best foot forward.