Some questions on the staging of the CBC tourney here

Mar 07, 2009 Sports

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Sports Editor,
I wish to thank you in anticipation for publishing this letter and  to the Guyana Government, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation and all Guyanese as I offer my heartfelt congratulations on the GABF’s bid to host the CBC Championships in August 2009.
The Guyana media has reported that the Federation in submitting its bid to host the Championships received the blessings and full support of the Government. The Government’s support in hosting the Games comes in the wake of the reported successful staging of a High School’s Basketball tournament (a responsibility of the Federation and its affiliates.) I would not venture to say that the Ministry of Sports decided to sponsor the tournament since it decided that the respective Associations failed to provide the exposure to the youths, and the upcoming Inter-Guyana Games from whom Guyana’s team would be selected.

There seems a decision that the near fiasco of the last Inter-Guyana Games Basketball team would not be repeated. I refer to the situation when the team had to be outfitted by uniforms which were donated to the Federation and the players’ shoes were only delivered literally minutes before the game. This was due to red tape which delayed the clearing of the consignment – again a donation from the benefactor of the uniforms.
Has McPherson and company picked up on it yet?

The Government having identified itself as an active participant in the bid to host the Games must of necessity be reminded of some of the MUST cost involved. Let it be clearly understood that there is no attempt on my part to dictate to anyone what they must do, but I am merely attempting to save the name and face of Guyana in the event that six weeks before the scheduled championships, it pulls out of hosting, in the event that the CBC Inspector rules that their MUST requirements have not been met on that date.
I have attempted to estimate some of the expenses which are necessities demanded by CBC. All calculations are being made with the expectation that ten male and ten female national teams will participate. All quotations are in US dollars.

·  Hotel accommodation: $125,000
· Meals: $6,000
·  CBC officials expenses $6,000 (This includes Airfares for the Inspector and the   Officials attending the Championships)
·  Referees Fees: $12,000 (Each team provides one referee who is paid $500 for the Championships.
· Basketballs: $700 (a minimum of 24 FIBA certified balls (12 male balls &12 female balls) must be available to the teams at the beginning of each game)
· Trophies and Medals $1,200 (two championship trophies and medals for the top eight teams in both male and female tournaments.)
·  Backboards and rings: $3,300 (need for extra boards and rings in the event of damage)
· Uniforms: $3,600 (two sets for each Guyana team (home & away).

To summarize the above expenses, the sub-total is US$157,800
Added to the above expenses, the host will be required to provide adequate transportation, security and refreshment for the games and practice sessions.
There will be an expense for gift exchanges for each game – a minimum of 12 matches.
Mr. Kumar stated that there are adequate facilities for the championships. No one should consider the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as totally adequate. The host MUST make available to each team at lease two hours practice facilities each day of the championships. I am interested to know where these facilities are located and are they similar and comparable to the Sports Hall?  As a reminder the backboards for these International tournaments must be 72″ X 48″. The shot clock must be mounted above the backboard and not on the floor.
I rather suspect that
Guyana will have to pay the US$1,000 penalty for only having one FIBA certified referee. As a reminder, there are usually four games each day, thus the need for sufficient and secure locker rooms and lockers with locks.

As a note of interest, the admission price per day for four games in Puerto Rico was US$11.00 (GY$2200). Do we have a Guyanese basketball public who has the financial capacity to pay that amount each day, to fill the Sports Hall?
I have stopped adding the amounts. I leave that to you, Mr. McPherson, Mr. Kumar, the Ministers of Sports and Finance.
It can only be expected that the hosts will field teams which would make the country proud. It is the intention to scout for Guyanese NCAA, Semi-Pro and Pro players (men and women). If so will the GABF underwrite their expenses?
One final question – what were Mr. McPherson and the Government doing all these years
when the Burnham Court and its surroundings were in a deplorable state.?
And finally, after these Championships what is the next step for basketball in Guyana?
Yours in sports,
Ian K. Haynes

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