THE Ministry of Sport is not opposed to allowing athletes selected to represent this country, access to the Leonora Synthetic Track facility for training, but a strong case will have to be made to get the nod.

This is the word from the Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony.
He was responding to a question posed by the media during a meeting with the South American Youth Team that claimed a gold and silver medal at the championships over the weekend in Colombia.
‘It is something that we can consider on a case by case basis because right now we don’t have technical staff on the ground. What we have are people who are constructing the facility and therefore we don’t have people managing the facility from this aspect of it, it would be a little difficult.’
Dr. Anthony said rules governing the type and length of spikes for athletes running, jumping and throwing shoes and other uses of the facility for training are to be drafted. A supervisor for the facility is also to be sought.
The minister also said they are putting ‘the finishing touches’ on the facility as Government targets a formal opening within the first three months of 2015.
‘We’re now installing lights at the stadium for night events and also training purposes. We’ve completed all the dressing rooms and things of that nature so that we’re now putting things in order.’
We have a few contracts outstanding, one in particular has delayed the planned opening and that’s for the club house, so when that’s completed we will have the formal opening.’
Dr. Anthony said the services of the first contractor for the club house was terminated. Another contractor is working on the structure.
South American Youth 400m gold medal winner and record holder Jason Yaw, 400m Girls Silver medalist Natricia Hooper, coach Julian Edmonds and Athletics Association Vice-President Gavin Hope met with Dr. Anthony at his Main St. Office.
Dr. Anthony congratulated the team on their recent success. He said Guyana should be proud of their achievements.
He told the athletes of discipline and commitment and placed his faith in their ability to reach the Olympics and medal.
‘Guyana has been waiting too long for another Olympic medal.’
‘In the future we think that you can be the prospects that bring us those medals. It’s been alluding us for a long time.
Over the last couple of Olympics we’ve seen Caribbean countries do well and they’re all basking in having gold medals at the Olympics.’
‘We would like our own gold medal at the Olympics and I think once you work hard, you can bring that for us. We have a lot of faith in you,’ declared Dr. Anthony.
For his performance – Yaw became the first South American Youth athlete to run under 47 seconds in the history of the championships. The 17-year-old in his gold medal run, clocked 46.69 seconds. It was the second time he’d broken the record at the meet.
In the heats he ran 47.42 seconds to erase the old mark of 47.46 seconds.
Hooper, though not a record – posted 55.05 seconds to take silver – a new personal best. She lost the gold in the final few metres before the line. She has secured automatic qualification for next year’s World Youth Championships to be held back in Colombia.

(By Leeron Brumell)