… Independence half-marathon set to return
PRESIDENT of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) and former national sprinter, Assistant Superintendent of Police Colin Boyce, yesterday petitioned Director of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC), Neil Kumar, for an athletics track to be built in the National Park. According to Boyce, while the synthetic track at Leonora, which he, Kumar and Administrative Officer within the NS,C Gervy Harry, visited yesterday, is a welcome facility to the AAG, the number of events, coupled with athletes and clubs who will be seeking to use the facility, will pose a problem.
“I am extremely happy to be here today, to have a look at the progress being made with regard to the construction of Guyana’s first synthetic athletics track. I recalled the last time I visited here, which was sometime in October of last year and from our cordial discussions, what came out was hiccups which prevented further progress in the completion of the track.
“Now that I am here again, I am convinced that work is indeed going at a pace, according to the reports I received from then to now and I trust that with the new deadline that is scheduled for August this year, I am optimistic that while we may not have the complete stadium in terms of stands etc, I am certain that once we have the track completed, we can host local events here.”
Boyce is looking at hosting the National Primary and Secondary Schools athletics meeting which is scheduled to be held in November at the newly built track, while he said his Association can petition the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Confederation of South American Athletics for international meets when the venue is fully completed.
He cited his visit to Peru for an athletics meeting, where the track was in immaculate condition even though the stands were undergoing construction, a photograph of which was shown to Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony.
“While it is nice to have our national stadium here for athletics where we will be holding various championship meets, it is absolutely necessary that we have maybe somewhere in Georgetown (e.g. the National Park) another track maybe of a similar surface to this one here.
“That is necessary as the number of athletes and clubs who will be coming to train on the track would not be permitted as it would create damage to the track and we don’t wish to see that done, especially after the long wait we had to acquire for  our first track.
“I think we can use this as our competition track and we can use the other track as a warm-up track, even though an area was earmarked here for such a purpose, to which I am happy as even the Minister of Sport told me that we will be having a complete track,” stated Boyce.
Prior to Boyce’s brief remarks, Kumar called on the AAG to prepare a programme, from which both parties can plan the way forward when it comes to athletics and athletes in Guyana, saying that he was not convinced that he is getting same.
“I would like to see the AAG giving the Minister a programme when it comes to this track and athletics in Guyana and I must say that I am calling for this, as I am not convinced that I am getting it, while I need the AAG to partner more with us,” said Kumar.
“It is always necessary that any athletics association in any given country should be working with not only the National Sports Commission and Ministry of Sports of that country, but also the Government by extension as it relates to the development of track and field.
At the same time, they have to ensure that the track is properly utilised and I am sure that we will be having so many competitions, that the Minister may ask us to de-centralise the sport. But I am sure you will agree with me that due to the inclement weather in this country, many of the events on the AAG calendar had to be cancelled out, but if we have an all-weather track, then all parties involved will be happy,” added Boyce.
Kumar lauded the AAG boss for the hard work he is currently doing to revitalise the sport of athletics in Guyana, while calling for the return of the Independence half-marathon which was an annual event, saying he will personally sponsor the prizes for the race, whether he is Director of Sport or not.
Athletes of the calibre of Lionel D’Andrade, Cleveland Forde and Cleveland Thomas among others will be battling for supremacy when the event is held on May 26, with Kumar sponsoring the trophies and cash prizes which will be up for grabs.
“When I look at Sportsmax and hear how much Wavell Hinds and Lance Whittaker are showering praise on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control for the hard work they are doing when it comes to boxing, I feel pleased.
However, I will be happier when I hear them talk about Guyana and its athletics fraternity in the same manner they talk about Jamaica and its athletics fraternity, as I think that with the completion of this track, we can produce athletes who will be capable of competing on the international stage,” said Kumar.