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IT cannot be denied that this PPP/C Government is making a tremendous effort to develop sports in this country.
Significantly, we can boast about our spectacular State-of-the-Art Stadium, Racquet Centre, Aquatic Centre, the much improved Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the National Gymnasium and we have improved approximately one hundred other sporting facilities across the country. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport must take pride in the fact that we have had resounding success in resuscitating some once totally defunct sports disciplines.
Cricket, undoubtedly the premier sport discipline in Guyana and the Game of the Caribbean, is experiencing some administrative difficulties. However, expectations are high that a properly functional Guyana Cricket Board is in the making and despite all the uncomfortable scenarios our Under-15, Under-19 and National players are doing well. With four players in the West Indies Test squad and RamnareshSarwan to regain his place in the West Indies team, Guyana is more than a force to be reckoned with.
As for Football, it is certainly disheartening to know that the two most senior officials were – and one of them still is being – sanctioned by the world body.
In spite of difficult circumstances the biggest and most popular football tournament, the Kashif and Shanghai Annual Competition, is one of he best organised tournaments in Guyana. Further, our National Football Team achieved its highest ranking in the world only this year.
Our Squash players are the Champions of the Caribbean. All in Guyana particularly those in the Squash fraternity were elated to hear and read about what the senior Jamaican Squash Administrator had to say about our State-of-the-Art public squash court.
Credit for the highest appreciation expressed for the Woolford Avenue Squash Court must go to Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister Dr Frank Anthony and other Government Officials, whose keen interest/desire for the best was the driving force behind the facility.
The Aquatic Centre is a source of pride. The visiting teams at the Goodwill Games earlier this year were highly impressed with Guyana’s facilities.
President Donald Ramotar is more than helpful and willing to see the National Aquatic Centre become the best facility in the Caribbean and it will certainly produce world class swimmers. We must ensure that we maintain the high standards set at the Aquatic Centre. Swimming was a non-existing sport discipline in 1992. It is the PPP/C Government that resuscitated and brought swimming to where it is today. We must build on what we have, so that we can achieve greatness. It is this Government that started the Goodwill Games and put the Inter Guiana Games on a solid footing.
Athletics is an old discipline. The PPP/C is now constructing a synthetic track and as can be expected with a project of this magnitude, the schedule has been revised. However, that facility will be a reality very soon.
Credit also goes to the PPP/C for organising the Inter Guiana Games which ensures that our students are exposed to international competition at a very young age.
It is the PPP/C that started our participation at the ALBA Games and we are proud that our own Winston George was discovered there. This year we are looking to send more than one hundred persons to the XVIII South American School Games in Brazil. Our Under-15 youths will also be competing at the NATAL in Brazil.
Cycling has really developed under the PPP/C. The Three-Stage Race is today an international race and it was this Government that introduced the present Five-Stage International Race in this country as a signature annual event. Further ‘Big Ride’ is an annual event that is extremely popular for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
We must not forget that the ‘Challenge Day” activity is also now an established signature event in this country.
Chess was defunct, today, it is one of the sport disciplines that are showing strong development and Guyana is competing internationally.
Volleyball was ‘dead’! Under the PPP/C the Volleyball Federation was resuscitated and because of the excellent relationship between the National Body and the Government we are seeing excellent progress in this discipline.
Boxing – It is under the PPP/C that our professional boxers have excelled. Guyana is now on the World Map. Our own ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and others have won world titles, not to forget our ‘Golden Girl’ Shondell Alfred.
While the list of achievements and success is indeed encouraging, it is imperative that we improve on the performance of our sport administrators. The time is most opportune when the sports policy must be our guide to action.
It is imperative for the Government, National Sports Associations/Federations, Corporate Citizens and possibly the Guyana Olympic Association to use their synergies to further develop sports in this country.
Sports Administrators must accept that the athletes come first. Selfish bickering and pursuit of personal interests must cease. An urgent change in the prevailing philosophy is needed; all stakeholders must ensure that a new philosophy that focuses on the betterment of our athletes is established.
The practice of securing a spot in the ‘Travel Party’ months before international events, even before our athletes are selected, must not be condoned. The establishment and acceptance of a new Athletes First Philosophy is essential for the development of Sports in Guyana.
Let’s be motivated by our success. We need to be fully cognisant that we are capable of great successes. Today, we are better than before. Let the future be filled with victories and gold medallists.
Significantly, we can boast about our spectacular State-of-the-Art Stadium, Racquet Centre, Aquatic Centre, the much improved Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the National Gymnasium and we have improved approximately one hundred other sporting facilities across the country. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport must take pride in the fact that we have had resounding success in resuscitating some once totally defunct sports disciplines.
Cricket, undoubtedly the premier sport discipline in Guyana and the Game of the Caribbean, is experiencing some administrative difficulties. However, expectations are high that a properly functional Guyana Cricket Board is in the making and despite all the uncomfortable scenarios our Under-15, Under-19 and National players are doing well. With four players in the West Indies Test squad and RamnareshSarwan to regain his place in the West Indies team, Guyana is more than a force to be reckoned with.
As for Football, it is certainly disheartening to know that the two most senior officials were – and one of them still is being – sanctioned by the world body.
In spite of difficult circumstances the biggest and most popular football tournament, the Kashif and Shanghai Annual Competition, is one of he best organised tournaments in Guyana. Further, our National Football Team achieved its highest ranking in the world only this year.
Our Squash players are the Champions of the Caribbean. All in Guyana particularly those in the Squash fraternity were elated to hear and read about what the senior Jamaican Squash Administrator had to say about our State-of-the-Art public squash court.
Credit for the highest appreciation expressed for the Woolford Avenue Squash Court must go to Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister Dr Frank Anthony and other Government Officials, whose keen interest/desire for the best was the driving force behind the facility.
The Aquatic Centre is a source of pride. The visiting teams at the Goodwill Games earlier this year were highly impressed with Guyana’s facilities.
President Donald Ramotar is more than helpful and willing to see the National Aquatic Centre become the best facility in the Caribbean and it will certainly produce world class swimmers. We must ensure that we maintain the high standards set at the Aquatic Centre. Swimming was a non-existing sport discipline in 1992. It is the PPP/C Government that resuscitated and brought swimming to where it is today. We must build on what we have, so that we can achieve greatness. It is this Government that started the Goodwill Games and put the Inter Guiana Games on a solid footing.
Athletics is an old discipline. The PPP/C is now constructing a synthetic track and as can be expected with a project of this magnitude, the schedule has been revised. However, that facility will be a reality very soon.
Credit also goes to the PPP/C for organising the Inter Guiana Games which ensures that our students are exposed to international competition at a very young age.
It is the PPP/C that started our participation at the ALBA Games and we are proud that our own Winston George was discovered there. This year we are looking to send more than one hundred persons to the XVIII South American School Games in Brazil. Our Under-15 youths will also be competing at the NATAL in Brazil.
Cycling has really developed under the PPP/C. The Three-Stage Race is today an international race and it was this Government that introduced the present Five-Stage International Race in this country as a signature annual event. Further ‘Big Ride’ is an annual event that is extremely popular for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
We must not forget that the ‘Challenge Day” activity is also now an established signature event in this country.
Chess was defunct, today, it is one of the sport disciplines that are showing strong development and Guyana is competing internationally.
Volleyball was ‘dead’! Under the PPP/C the Volleyball Federation was resuscitated and because of the excellent relationship between the National Body and the Government we are seeing excellent progress in this discipline.
Boxing – It is under the PPP/C that our professional boxers have excelled. Guyana is now on the World Map. Our own ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and others have won world titles, not to forget our ‘Golden Girl’ Shondell Alfred.
While the list of achievements and success is indeed encouraging, it is imperative that we improve on the performance of our sport administrators. The time is most opportune when the sports policy must be our guide to action.
It is imperative for the Government, National Sports Associations/Federations, Corporate Citizens and possibly the Guyana Olympic Association to use their synergies to further develop sports in this country.
Sports Administrators must accept that the athletes come first. Selfish bickering and pursuit of personal interests must cease. An urgent change in the prevailing philosophy is needed; all stakeholders must ensure that a new philosophy that focuses on the betterment of our athletes is established.
The practice of securing a spot in the ‘Travel Party’ months before international events, even before our athletes are selected, must not be condoned. The establishment and acceptance of a new Athletes First Philosophy is essential for the development of Sports in Guyana.
Let’s be motivated by our success. We need to be fully cognisant that we are capable of great successes. Today, we are better than before. Let the future be filled with victories and gold medallists.
