A case for modern sports facilities

Jan 11, 2009 Sports

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Dear Editor,
Barbara Bush once said, “Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people.”  I am quite sure she was not referring to anyone in particular but her words have an effect on Guyana’s situation. I am referring to Guyana’s performance or non performance in the world of sports. It is my view that if sports is to succeed in Guyana we must all look at facilities. Without proper Sporting Facilities sports cannot progress. Governments also have to play an important role in the development of Sports with greater financial input. The money is there, use it.
Let us look at some Major Sports Associations and what they have for facilities.
Athletics – Eve Leary Ground: When rain falls there is nothing doing and the venue is not always available.   No Synthetic Track, I wonder when that would be a reality. There is need to have an all weather track, we are capable of medaling at games but we are always at a disadvantage.
Basket Ball – Sports Hall they have the use of it when it is available.
Boxing – Sports Hall and National Gymnasium. They are not always available. They need somewhere where they can have exclusive rights to. Remember the only Olympic Medal is from Boxing and we also had a few World Champions.
Cycling – The Highways and Nat Park – that is a disaster. A velodrome is urgently needed, many attempts were made in the past, could this become a reality in my life time, I doubt it.
Cricket – That is the darling sport, everybody love cricket, they have a perfect facility yet we failed miserable in 2008. Divert some of the resources to the other Sports Associations and do not treat them like Step Children (No disrespect meant, some Step Children are treated excellent).
Football – National Stadium (recent), GCC – only in dry season, MSC Ground when it rains it is terrible. The Government should be proud of seeing two local club fill the National Stadium to capacity (World Cup Cricket did not do it) and they should be a bit more sympathetic to the football cause. For 2009 they should put aside their differences with the GFF and be MAN enough and say to the GFF let us work together so we can develop the sport. The World loves football it is the No 1 Spectator Sport, treat it like what it is. Over 208 Countries play football, more countries than are in the United Nations. With the correct help Guyana can make a World Cup Final we have the potential.
Hockey – GCC, CASH, etc. These venues are not always available. They also need a Synthetic Field. We have the potential to do well but help is needed, space is available.
Lawn Tennis – Pegasus. This is private property and guests use it a lot hence the sport is hindered. Will the Non Pariel Court be active this year so that we can witness top level tennis again?
Netball – CASH & Nat Gymnasium. These venues are not always available. Netball needs a permanent home for themselves, nearly all the Caribbean Countries have a Netball Home. I think that our women need to be treated with a little more respect because this sport is basically a ladies thing.
Rugby – Nat Park. Though they have access to same, the surface needs fixing properly and the outside elements need to desist from playing on the field when it rains. There is also need for Spectators to be accommodated.
Swimming – Colgrain and Castellani Pools. We are at a disadvantage the pools are too short, imagine you looking at a 1,500 meter race at these pools, you will become dizzy.
Table Tennis – Sports Hall. They have exclusive rights to the Hall, it is probably because of who is the head, however, when there are other activities they are put on the back burner.
Volleyball – Sports Hall. They only have the use of the Hall when it is available, and that is not very often.
It is my view that the Sports Ministry should employ more professional persons who have sports at heart and not for their personal gains. I am also of the view that The Ministry has to treat all Associations/Federations with equal footing. There should not be witch hunting and petty differences.
Because a Sports Official do not like a specific President or Secretary that Assoc/Fed have to suffer, in the long run it is the Sport which suffers, the players and the Country looks bad when they go out to represent Guyana.
It is time that pride be the dominant factor when dealing with Sports, I know what I am saying because I was involved in Sports a very long time, longer than most of who are there. Take my advice.
I hope for 2009, the Ministry looks at Sports as a Business where we can invest in our Sports Men and Women, the rewards and benefits are numerous, only Guyana can gain, crime may be less so there would not be need to spend the money in rehabilitating the Prisons and Jails. Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment.
Sir Winston Churchill said, “It’s not enough we do our best, sometimes we have to do what’s required.”
Lawrence “Sparrow” Griffith . Sports Administrator

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