– GAC head tells athletes at Social Media workshop
CHAIRPERSON of the Guyana Athletes Commission, (GAC), olympian Chelsea Edghill outlined to Chronicle Sports that the commission has a number of programmes they are aiming to execute for the benefit of the country’s athletes in the coming months.

The body, which hosted a Social Media Management workshop over the weekend, operates under the umbrella of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).
She noted that the commission is the premier forum for athletes’ representation and development and it is committed to empowering Guyanese athletes to excel both on and off the field.

“We have a few more workshops, one that will be focused mainly on mental health, another on nutrition, just so we can help in the overall development of athletes. Lastly, we will be hosting our forum that will bring athletes together talking about our election for the athletes’ commission and what to expect from us in the future,” she said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the commission’s first event for the year at the Guyana Olympic Association’s headquarters at Liliendaal over the weekend, Edgehill said that the goal was to better position athletes to access more support through proper branding and social media profiles.

“We noticed that there is a growing interest in athletes’ lives and how they prepare and train and it also bodes well for them. When it comes to NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals and these big companies wanting to sponsor athletes, in Guyana we have a changing landscape for sports and it is important to equip athletes with the necessary tools to access all the opportunities.”

The workshop which was facilitated by social media trainer Jevon Wilson and saw representative athletes from all the major sporting disciplines, including Cricket, Athletics, Rugby, Table Tennis and Football among others.
She noted that the GAC also used the forum to give athletes an insight into the work of the commission, the progress it has made and accomplishments since it was formed in 2022.

The workshop equipped athletes with essential knowledge on presenting themselves professionally across various social media platforms.
The workshop also emphasised the significance of maintaining a professional online presence.

The GAC chairperson says this workshop will have huge values for athletes who are beginning to recognise the power of their voices for good.
“Athletes play a pivotal role in society, in terms of inspiring other people and being a positive influence on society, so I think this workshop bodes for all athletes. We need to be seen as more than people that [sic] hit a ball or swim; we have a part to play and our voices should be heard.”

Edghill added that the workshop underscores their dedication to providing invaluable resources and support to the sporting community, ensuring their continued success in the national, regional and global arena.