UNITED States Ambassador Brent Hardt yesterday continued to show support to development of sports in Guyana when he handed over a quantity of boxing gear to the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) at the Andrew ‘Six-Head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown.

Carryl’s Gym in Linden, Rose Hall Jammers in Berbice and Andrew Lewis Gym are the beneficiaries of the equipment that includes gloves, mouth guards, head guards, speed bags and skipping ropes.
The American Ambassador is of the view that steady donations and exchanges by the US Government can contribute to a closer relationship between Guyana and his country in the sport.
He also added that boxing is a positive way for youngsters to relieve themselves of frustration and negative energy while instilling discipline and channelling them to a positive career.
“Sports is a great way to build passion and self-discipline among young people, making them less susceptible to risky behaviour and lifestyles.
“To be a successful boxer you really have to be disciplined. It takes hard work and dedication. Through the process of discipline and goal-setting learned at the gym, young people learn to be self-motivated and more aware of the facts that doing the right thing can make good things happen,” said the US Ambassador.
Steve Ninvalle, president of GABA thanked Ambassador Hardt for his timely contribution, stating that he’s “heartened to be present at this simple ceremony because it marks a significant step for amateur boxing in Guyana.
“I think this is the first time that we would have been joining hands with the embassy of the United States and I want to say a heartfelt thank-you to the ambassador for supporting amateur boxing”.
Ninvalle also said: “Amateur boxing in Guyana has paid its dues, it is the only sport that has won an Olympic medal and even though we have paid our dues, we still think that we have much further to go and with this gesture from the United States Embassy, this will assist us in the bumpy road that we have ahead and I once again I say thank-you and we hope it continues”.
Also present to mark the occasion was Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony who lauded the US Embassy and the Ambassador for showing interest in Guyana’s sport development.
Minister Anthony said that it is exchanges like these that bind the two countries together in the sport and noted that he’s looking forward for other disciplines to benefit from such gestures from the USA.
Presidential Adviser on Empowerment, Odinga Lumumba who was instrumental in the setting-up of the Andrew ‘Six-Head’ Lewis gym which was built in honour of Guyana’s first world champion, gave a brief history about the facility and the role it plays in enhancing the lives of youths in the area and in the sport.
GABA coaches Gregory Cort, George Oprecht and Francisco Hernandez Roldan from Cuba were also in attendance to share the moment.