Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Pan Am Games team facing sponsorship woes
By Edison Jefford
The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is still in suspense over sponsorship for the national junior team that is scheduled to compete at the Pan American Games slated for Trinidad and Tobago, from July 28 – August 2.
Colin Boyce
“We have a meeting tomorrow where we’ll look at the position of the team. To be frank with you, sponsorship is not as good as expected,” the AAG President, Colin Boyce told this newspaper when contacted yesterday.
He had indicated at another forum last week that he would have adequate information on the status of the team by Monday. However, that was not the situation when Kaieteur Sport reached the top AAG official yesterday.
Boyce said that he had hoped that sponsorship for the three athletes, manager and coach would have been ascertained as of now, but that is not the case since some corporate giants are still to confirm their support.
“Some sponsors are still to respond. By the weekend, I should understand properly what is happening. The responses so far are not overwhelming but we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel,” the AAG head indicated.
The association is focusing on Okeme Stewart, Roxanna Rigby and Nadine Rodrigues for sponsorship, along with manager, Pamela Phillips and coach, Lyndon Wilson, since Triston Joseph and Kevin Bailey are already in Trinidad.
Joseph and Bailey are to compete at the Hampton Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from Friday. The two athletes will be using the event to aid in preparation for the Pan Am Games, which poses serious competition.
“We are pushing for everyone to go. I should resume contact with sponsors by tomorrow (today) so by Friday, I should be in a better position to tell you what is really going on,” Boyce attempted to guarantee.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony had argued on Friday that there needs to be a greater collaborative effort between his Ministry and national sport agencies in tackling the growing sponsorship issues.
However, the AAG are yet to get a response from the Ministry after sending them a letter pertaining to the team. Kaieteur Sport could not obtain the content of the letter, but knows that a document was dispatched to the Ministry.
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