MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr. Frank Anthony on Friday evening lauded the efforts of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) in promoting sports in Guyana.
In a brief but well put together address at the Guyana Olympic Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony held at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Dr. Anthony pointed out to the many developments the Government had contributed to for sports in Guyana.
He cited the construction of the international 50-metre swimming pool at Lillendaal and the warm up pool which is still under construction, as well as the first ever synthetic athletic track currently under construction at Leonara, West Coast Demerara.
While congratulating the awardees of the various awards that were given out on Friday evening, Dr. Anthony reminded that we here in Guyana tend to forget the contributions of our sportsmen and women and hoped that their contributions would not end here but will be documented via the just installed Sports Resource Centre – Woolford Avenue.
“There are many exciting things happening for sports right now, like the warm up swimming pool and the synthetic track which will not only be used for track events but field events as well,” Minister Anthony stated.
He said the Governments of Guyana and Cuba will be working to bring Cuban coaches here to Guyana to assist with upgrading of our track and field athletes, and his ministry has already secured the services of Cuban swimming and boxing coaches.
The Minister said it is his desire to make the Sports Resource Center in Woolford Avenue a facility that will have monthly lectures on various issues including anti doping laws in sports.
“Ultimately, it it’s a three to five-year plan to make it a sports institute,” Dr. Anthony stated, adding “ lots of career in sports I figure can be offered, here if we can offer it here, as it will be more affordable.”
He noted that last year the Government of Guyana gave $300M to community development and this year, every community will get $1M for the development of their community.
He said he is pleased to learn that the GOA has expended close to $60M for the construction of their headquarters which is to be housed in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara and noted that the Guyana Motor Racing Club has benefitted from a $80M Euro deal for the construction of a new track.
Minister Anthony also said he is in constant talks with the Guyana Football Federation(GFF) which stands to benefit millions of dollars from FIFA through a CONCACAF programme for the development of football in the region.
He said the GFF had requested a 10-acre piece of land adjacent to the synthetic track that is currently under construction, and before the year ends, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and the GFF will be signed.
