– asks Sport Minister to open dialogue for ‘minimum standard’ of touring contingents

By Stephan Sookram
MOVED by ‘a number of calls from sportsmen and women,’ President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday asked Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jnr, to open dialogue among his Ministry of Sport and national associations and federations.

The president, via a social media video posted on his page, spoke to greater co-operation between his Ministry of Sports and these federations and associations to come up with ‘minimum standards’ for sporting contingents that will represent this country on the international stage.

“It is time, I think from a national level, and I’ve had a discussion with the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture and I’ve asked him to engage all the sporting bodies and the athletes in ensuring that we set a minimum standard. A team going to represent Guyana with all the sporting disciplines, whether it’s the South American Games or whatever games there, whether it’s organized by the Olympic association or whomever, there must be a minimum standard that is set,” he said.

In his eight-minute long video, the president stood in solidarity with those athletes who had complained of lack of resources and personnel when travelling for international engagements.

“To all the athletes, I share your pain and I want you [to] know that you have our support. We can’t ask our athletes to give us their best and to perform at an optimal level when we don’t support them to do so,” the President said.

The President’s address came in light of Olympian and boxer Keevin Allicock’s call for better treatment of athletes following his health scare at the recent South American games held in Paraguay.

In a social media post, Alicock related his ordeal where he took ill during competition and was later diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, garnering assistance from another country’s medical team in the absence of his country’s own.

The Guyanese boxer cited the fact that there was no suitable medical personnel touring with the team, a fact later echoed by National Squash star and Olympian Nicolette Fernandes.

The Guyanese head of state did not mince words, saying, “For example, a phyisotheraphist, basic medical personnel, those persons must be assigned to teams when they are leaving to represent Guyana, so that our athletes can be treated with dignity and have the assurance of some sort of medical support.”

And while it remains the responsibility of the federations and associations to appoint necessary personnel, the president reminded that when on international duty, those athletes and contingents become ambassadors for Guyana and as such should have at least the minimum standard of resources.

The president was also quick to point out that while there have been major investments in the infrastructural aspect as it relates to sport, he remains cognizant that there must also be investment in athletes well-being both in and out of the country.

“I believe strongly in sport. We are putting more investment into sports and its facilities but we also need to put investment and time into the governance institutions and ensuring that minimum standards are set and adhered to when athletes represent us as a country and as a people.”