Yasin, Rose esteem Pompey’s Olympic performance

Sep 07, 2008 Sports

K.A. Juman Yassin

Aliann Pompey

By Edison Jefford
President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Juman Yasin stated yesterday that an effective schools’ sports programme is the way forward for the development of athletes and sports generally in Guyana.

Yasin was speaking to Kaieteur Sport following a GOA press conference that was held to assess Guyana’s performance at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Beijing, China where the country again went medal–less.

“We should begin to emphasise on a school’s programme where our youngsters could be developed. At least that has been the success of the Jamaicans,” Yasin said, adding that the schools are the right place to start.

Yasin observed that while Guyana didn’t get any medals, 400 metres competitor, Aliann Pompey finished 11th out of a host of other countries. In his estimation, that should be considered an achievement for a country that only had three track athletes.

“Out of 204 participating countries, 84 got medals. People said people went on a trip but I want to assure you that those who went to Beijing were officially part of our quota,” the GOA boss informed.

Yasin made it clear that Pompey and Marian Burnett will continue to represent Guyana providing they make the qualifying standards. “You have to qualify to go to the Olympics. All who qualifies will go or should go,” he said.

Manager of the Guyana Olympic team, Colonel Rose was even more sympathetic with Pompey and Burnett. Rose said that both athletes’ backgrounds in the United States are indicative of immense struggle to get to where they are.

“We were a small contingent but for athletes to be ranked 11th and 23rd in the world after the Olympics is no ordinary feat given that both of them have full time jobs in the US,” Rose observed, adding that they did well through the qualifying rounds.

“Pompey and Burnett should not be discarded. They still have a lot of athletics in them but they need support. (Usain) Bolt and Veronica (Campbell–Brown) are well supported that is why they can do what they have done,” Rose noted.

According to the Olympic team manager, one Olympic Games cannot produce a medal winning performance with such difficulties as lack of support. He said at least two Games will suffice because of the inconsistent training regiment.

Rose, who holds an advanced diploma in athletics from the Hungarian University and a level three coaches’ certificate, said that Guyana should be planning toward the 2016 Olympics and not the 2012 London Games.