…GOA presidents calls for collaboration on sports development

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Kalam Juman-Yassin, has written to Charles Ramson Jr, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, on collaboration in the area of sports development, while also expressing his desire for the laws that govern sports associations and federations to be respected Initially, Yassin chided the Minister over a release that was published by the Ministry on December 5, when it was stated that their “partnership with Associations/Federations premised on advancing interest of Guyanese Sportsmen/Sportswomen.”

The Ministry spoke of sanctions being taken on sportsmen and women who acted not in accordance with the laws and constitution of their respective disciplines, adding that “the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on behalf of the Government of Guyana has ultimate responsibility to, among other things, advance sports in Guyana and the interests of Guyanese sportsmen/sportswomen.” Yassin explained that the GOA is comprised of over twenty National Federations/Associations and all of these Federations/Associations are affiliated with their International Federations.

These International Federations, Yassin pointed out, are all affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC is the organizer of the Olympic Games and which games is the pinnacle for which athletes desire to compete and win medals. The IOC recognizes all of the affiliated International Federations as being responsible for their sports world-wide and for them to make all their respective rules with respect to competitions, qualifications to compete at the Olympics and other competitions, disqualifications, constitutions and several other factors.

Guyana competes at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, South American Games and the Islamic Games. All of the aforementioned games organizers, except the Islamic Games, recognize the IOC and are guided by the Olympic Charter. The Olympic Charter is the codification of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, Rules and Bye-Laws adopted by the IOC.

According to the GOA president, National Federations/Associations are guided by their respective constitutions, rules and bye-laws and do not compel clubs or persons to belong to or be affiliated with them. “It is voluntary and clubs and persons, when they join or become affiliated to a National Federation/Association, agree to abide and be bound by the constitutions, rules and bye laws. As far as I am aware, all clubs and persons who are affiliated or join, are totally aware of their obligations,” Yassin said.

Yassin said he has seen Minister Ramson’s enthusiasm and work during his five months at the Ministry, and the GOA is looking forward to “forging a concrete partnership with you and your Ministry for the development of sports and our young people. I and all our members wish and are working to establish a programme where our athletes can be supported, if not fully, then to a great extent so that their dreams and that of all Guyanese can be realized.”

The former Chief Magistrate suggested that the GOA and the Minister meet “to discuss the way forward so that there may not be any friction to affect the smooth operation of our continued cooperation. If any person or group has a grouse with a National Federation/Association, then a look at the circumstances can discern the reason and an appeal can be made within the rules to resolve the matter.” Yassin affirms that rules should be respected by persons in sports and sincerely hopes that his letter would clear up the ambiguities the Ministry’s statement might have caused.

The long-serving head of the local Olympic movement said the autonomy and independence of recognized National Federations/Associations must be recognized and if they should do anything detrimental to their sports or athletes, then they should be called to account within the parameters of their constitution or an appeal can be made to their International Federation.
“I, nor the Guyana Olympic Association, will not condone or encourage any behavior or conduct that is inimical to the good of sports or our athletes,” Yassin cautioned.