JAMAICAN Olympian Grace Jackson, who was one of the facilitators of the National Sports Management Workshop, said she looks forward to continuing to play a part in helping Guyana to shape its sporting culture, after feeling truly connected with the group of sporting administrators, who attended the three-day workshop that concluded yesterday at the National Resource Centre.

“I think it has been a fabulous three days. I am inspired and I make a commitment to continue this … I will (be back), I feel a sense of commitment … I delivered and I feel connected; I can identify areas in which I can help, as a consultant, (while) allowing Guyana to do the work. I see areas in which I can say ok, let me help you to do this quicker because I have either the expertise or the know-how.” Jackson said when addressing the press following the closure of the ceremony.
Jackson was all smiles as she spoke of how entertaining it was to interact with the 42 Guyanese sporting administrators who attended the full three days of the workshop, which she facilitated alongside Trinidad’s four-time Olympic medallist Ato Boldon.
Jackson reminded her audience that Guyanese sports administrators need to better understand the role that they play in being the developers of sports in Guyana, noting that the government still needed to play a role in motivating the sporting administrators.
“There seems to be a focus, they believe, that the minister must do, it is not the minister that must do, the minister must inspire the others to do.
“He asked for this workshop to be put on, what he’s trying to do is to get the persons who have the knowledge and the know-how to be able to do the things that need to be done. He will give them the support. I think it was very clear in his message that he wants these plans that were put on the table to be looked at later and to be able to be executed.” Grace said, speaking of four plans that the sporting administrators yesterday presented.
The presentations were well received by the sports administrators and an audience that included the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and the Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill.
The attendees were tasked with putting together the plan following two days of seminars on designing an effective sports culture in Guyana. The workshop touched on key issues such as sports and corporate sponsorship, how to market sports, and sports and the media, among other areas.