Latest update February 20th, 2025 9:10 AM
MCY&S/NSC Swim Camp underway
100 plus participants involved
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport (MCY&S) Dr. Frank Anthony Friday officially opened the 5th Annual MCY&S/National Sports Commission (NSC) Swim Camp which is being held at the Colgrain Pool, Camp Street.
Dr. Anthony in declaring open the Camp, which is being conducted by National Coach Stephanie Fraser and team, challenged the young swimmers ranging from ages 5 to 15 to ensure that they are competent athletes at the end of the 10-day programme.
“Around this time every year we have a number of camps which targets our young people as we seek to train them in life skills and we have some specialised sports camps. And while we would love to have every child in Guyana learn to swim because of the lack of facilities and the amount of trainers that we have, that is sometimes not possible. But we still endeavor every year to train more and more people.”
The minister believes that by making it possible for children to have skills in sports it is a life long asset that will take them through life and serve them well, referring to swimming. He noted that as persons grow older they become more inactive but if they are exposed to some sport or fitness skill early in life it will serve them well in later years to be fit and healthy.
“We feel that if we teach people early then we are changing a generation’s attitude to how you keep fit and how you must stay fit. So this skill of swimming that we’ll be teaching at this camp will live with these young people.”
Dr. Anthony informed the young swimmers and parents that a significant project which has already begun will further enhance the sport in Guyana come next year. He was referring to the construction of the Olympic size Pool and Diving Pool.
“This is a very important thing for us in Guyana which means that our athletes will be training in conditions that would be similar to when they go abroad to compete so they would not be at a disadvantage.”
Director of Sport Neil Kumar was also present and said he was very pleased with the response shown by parents. He noted that the administration is investing a lot in swimming and sports in general.
“It is very important to start swimming at a young age and I applaud you all for being here. I am also pleased to see so many parents here. You owe these kids not only to ensure that they are academically sound but that they are also physically fit.”
Kumar also informed that a total of 65 camps targeting various sports will be held around the country during the August holidays. (Franklin Wilson)
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