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As plain as that

Aug 13, 2009 Sports

By Rawle Welch
It is the view of many that if Guyana do not implement a programme to assist our best athletes we will never get back to the level of excellence that we once achieved in sports during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
Once one of the most dominant and respected Caribbean nations, this country’s achievements in sports have plummeted to a degree never witnessed before, while some of those nations that we previously trampled upon are now doing exactly the same to us.
We only have to look back at the recent performances of disciplines such as cricket, where we ended just ahead of Windward Islands in the three-day and one-day competitions, and athletics and the point is driven home.

These are sports that we used to feature prominently on the regional circuit, but sadly this is no longer the case, instead our decline has been rapid.
The earlier talk of a Sports Policy seems to have dissipated now with no word of progress emanating from the major stakeholder (the Ministry of Sport) even after a flurry of consultations with its affiliated members.
The effects of the absence of such a programme have definitely stymied the development of athletes and ultimately sports in this nation.
What we need here is a Ministry that rewards outstanding performances and this should not only entail tax waivers, but more tangible financial support such as assisting athletes’ training and preparations for major engagements.

This is the only way to guarantee unrelenting commitment from our athletes to train hard, which could eventually reap the kinds of reward that our sister nations across the Caribbean are enjoying.
During the 70’s and 80’s Guyana enjoyed a ‘purple patch’ in sports with cricket, football, hockey, motor racing, cycling, table tennis and boxing, all rated highly in the Caribbean and even further a-field.
Guyana possessed such champions as Commonwealth Games boxing gold medallist Winfield Braithwaite, Brian Muller and Patrick Ford, outstanding athletes such as June Marcia Griffith, James Wren Gilkes, motor racers Andrew King, Ray and Jad Rahaman, table tennis players George Braithwaite, Bruce Edwards, Mike Christophe, Mike Baptiste, Carol Davison, cyclists Neville Hunte, Jolyn Joseph, Aubrey Gordon and Victor Rutherford, all capable of beating the best on offer in the Region.
Now, apart from isolated outstanding performances by a few individuals, only the national junior Squash team and the senior rugby squads could rightly argue that they belong on the same podium as those yesteryear athletes.

Guyana has long been identified as a country that produces naturally talented athletes, but in an age of scientific technological advances, natural ability could only take you so far; so unless a well crafted development sports plan is fashioned, we will remain cellar-dwellers.
It is as plain as that.
Trinidad and Tobago recently doled out millions of dollars to assist its elite athletes preparations for all major competitions, Jamaica had done something similar lately and there is no doubt other Caribbean territories have done likewise, but no such disbursements have been made here.
If we’re to make a significant impact on the regional and international circuits very soon, such backing must be forthcoming. Athletes cannot do it on their own; it is imperative that the major stakeholders recognise this deficiency and seek to tackle it seriously.
It is an established fact that whenever sports or athletes enjoy adequate financial support positive achievements is obtained.
Let’s strive to attain such.

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