TORONTO, Canada — President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K. Juman Yassin has once again bemoaned the fact that Guyana’s sportsmen are not on a level playing field with their counterparts from other developing countries.

The long-standing GOA head made the remarks on Thursday night at a grand welcoming ceremony, organised by the Guyana Consulate here for the country’s contingent at the 2015 Pan Am games, which commenced earlier this week but had its official opening ceremony on Friday night.
Delivering remarks at the function, which was held at the Twilight Restaurant in Scarborough and attended by Consular General Sattie Sawh and several prominent Guyanese living in Toronto, Yassin outlined the several difficulties faced by the local athletes.
Alluding to the fact that Guyana does not have full-time coaches and athletes, Yassin disclosed that they are required to work and attend schools during the day and train mostly in the afternoons.
He also referred to what he described as “the lessons syndrome” in Guyana which also prevents the young athletes from developing and surmised that “this is not what gives you Gold medal.”
The GOA president said his organisation was thankful to the previous administration for providing an Olympic size swimming pool and a track at Leonora, which has been approved by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) but was quick to point out that “you need to have other infrastructures that would support your athletes, among them, a sports medicine programme and ensuring top level coaches are there and unless you get all of these things we will still be in a position of difficulty.”
On a positive note, Yassin was optimistic that within four to six years, Guyana’s athletes will benefit from the facilities and be able to gain medals at international games. “Despite these difficulties, our athletes have been able to elevate themselves and to be able to be here to participate in the Pan Am Games is no easy feat and as president of the GOA, I want to commend and compliment them and urge them to dedicate themselves in order to go higher.”
Yassin also called on the Guyanese diaspora to assist in whatever way possible in order to stimulate and generate the athletes’ upward mobility.
The GOA president also disclosed that his association has already met with Dr Rupert Roopnarine, the new Minister of Education whose portfolio sports fall under, and the GOA is looking forward to his promised input in sports.
Chef de Mission Ivor O’Brien, in his remarks, called on the athletes to give of their best and if this is good enough to earn them medals, then it would be much appreciated. He also reminded them “to have fun and at the same time remain focused.”
Two-time Pan Am Games medallist Julian Austin, who gained a Silver and a Gold medal while competing for Canada at the 1979 and 1983 games in Puerto Rico and Caracas, Venezuela respectively, told the athletes that their motto should and ought to be that “you are here to compete and not participate.” Austin, who represented Canada at field hockey after migrating from Guyana, lamented the fact that he didn’t get a chance to represent the country of his birth.
In her opening remarks, Consul General Sawh disclosed that she was excited that the Pan-Am Games had finally arrived. “For those of us that live in Toronto, the topic of the games has been on everyone’s lips for many months, and all of the build-up and preparation have finally boiled down to the next few weeks. The city will come alive with activity and passion for all of the events that will take place. It is a very special time to be in Toronto.
According to Sawh, “Guyanese in Toronto are very engaged and connected. Guyanese are involved in all levels of society, from volunteering efforts to community initiatives, from arts and culture to business, from education to entrepreneurship, and indeed, even in sports. Guyanese are everywhere, and no matter what we are doing, we carry a unique love and passion for our homeland very close to our hearts. It is that connection that makes this reception such a joy to be a part of.
“As a community, we are overjoyed to welcome the young men and women from Guyana to Toronto to not just represent the Golden Arrowhead, but to compete with other world-class athletes from the Americas. Guyana may be geographically small, but that does not mean that we aren’t skilled, talented and capable.
You all are a testament to our national ability to succeed.”
Speaking specifically to the officials, Sawh said she had no doubt “that you have worked hard to ensure our country’s successful participation in the games, and that our team, collectively, will not only perform well, but will display the discipline, enthusiasm and sportsmanship that our nation is proudly known for.”
The Consular General reminded the athletes that “the competition will be fierce, the challenges will be many, and the pressure will be high, but never forget that you have an advantage that none of the other athletes have – you are Guyanese.
You are from a nation of strong, skilled and successful people, and you will no doubt make all of your brothers and sisters, be they at home, in Canada, or elsewhere, extremely proud.”
The athletes and officials were recipients of souvenir t-shirts, compliments of Harold and Sandra Pertab, a Guyanese husband and wife residing in Toronto.
Apart from the three track and field athletes, who will be managed by former 400 metres specialist Allian Pompey, most of the other athletes and officials from the other disciplines were present at Thursday night’s function. Pompey, along with sprinters Adam Harris, Winston George and Jenea McCammon are due in Toronto on July 17 with the track and field segment of the games set to get underway on July 21.
Guyana will be represented at squash by Sunil Seth, Jason Ray-Khalid and Kristian Jeffrey; swimming by Onika George and Omar Adams and badminton by Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani. The respective coaches are Ramon Chan-A-Sue, Paul Kanhai and Gokarn Ramdhani.
The rugby team players are: Richard Staglon (Captain), Peobo Hamilton, Lancelot Adonis, Rickford Cummings, Claudius Butts, Ronald Mayers, Patrick King, Akeem Frazer, Ryan Gonsalves, Dwayne Schroeder, Phibian Joseph and Avery Corbin. The manager is Terrence Grant with Theodore Henry as coach.
The programme was chaired by Clyde Gulliver of the Guyana Consulate, while Kim Sue of Norman Sue Bakery and a prominent member of the Guyana Festival Committee gave the vote of thanks.

By Frederick Halley