The corporate community threatens to fail sports again

Nov 15, 2008 Sports

By Edison Jefford
The stage is set for the homecoming of the annual schools’ track and field, cycling and swimming championships in Linden but the financial framework to hold the structure together is apparently on the verge of collapse.

A grandfather and grandmother of the marquee schools’ event, which is the undisputed platform for the development of the nation’s athletes, would duck their heads and sigh belligerently after this news: ‘same old story’.

The franchise holders of the event, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), had budgeted a tad over $10M ($10, 133, 206 to be exact) for the successful staging of the 2008 edition of the countrywide, 16–district competition.

However, up to press time yesterday, the Union had only amassed $2.8M from the other half of the dual franchise, the Ministry of Education. The corporate community is yet to respond to calls to help the ailing activity.

Kaieteur Sport understands that letters were sent to various corporate giants since August and to date they have not responded. This situation of lack of corporate support for sports even at the schools’ level does not augurs well.

Letters were sent to both major telecommunications companies, Banks DIH, DDL and a few other corporate magnates but they have failed to provide even a minute contribution toward the development of sport in schools.

In essence, ‘nationals’ as the event is referred to colloquially, is a base for the building of sports in schools. It is the only major outlet for the exhibition of athletic talent within the various schools across 83,000 square miles.

If nothing else, one would expect corporate giants to pay some financial attention to this event because of its twofold athletic and academic purpose. In fact, the model of financial support for sport fits well into this faction.

An examination of the trend of corporate backing for sport in Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, will reveal that sport is propped up on the basis of certain ideals and education is one of its fundamental principles.

This is not a bargaining chip for GTU president, Colwyn King but something is primarily wrong when companies refuse to give back to a bloc that spends its money to keep them growing in industry and commerce.

School children are ardent lovers of soft drinks, for example, but the soft drinks company does not have the ethical value to merit the GTU’s request for financial support with a simple reply stating their support or lack thereof.

In democratic societies, the twisting of financial arms is unacceptable but introspection will enable companies to have some respect for its support base. Without the consumers, some of those companies cannot exist.

Because of its importance, the schools’ event must be a priority despite the comparatively poor nature of Guyana’s economy and the hundreds of requests that wrestle for funding at the doors of the same institutions each month.

No argument can be made for King and his administration since their relationship with the corporate community is ambivalent. But whatever the scenario, the children must be the eventual winners in any stalemate relationship.

Companies may have sufficient reason (s) why they refuse to sponsor an event but it is common courtesy to furnish the relevant stakeholders with a response either acceding to the request or denying its approval.

The schools’ championships get underway Tuesday morning and the money needed is to be spent on meals, transportation, medals and trophies.

King has already stated that he is not prepared to beg Government a second time. The absence of financial sustenance means that athletes and officials alike will not be fed, transported nor awarded.

This is exactly the reason behind Guyana’s failed participation in important international sport events for decades.

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The corporate community threatens to fail sports again

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