GAPF applauded for great job, action starts at 11:00hrs today @ Princess Hotel

Mar 19, 2010 Sports

All systems are in place for what is anticipated to be fierce competition at the 4th Annual Caribbean Bench Press & Powerlifting Championships at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara from 11:00hrs today following the opening ceremony at 10:00hrs.
Secretary General of the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Robert Keller confirmed at yesterday’s press conference that all systems are in place for a grand showing by the 35 male and female athletes while singing the praises of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) headed by Peter Green for doing a fabulous job in making the competition a reality.
Guyana had taken on the challenge of hosting after Trinidad and Tobago the original selectee, pulled out due to financial challenges. It was Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony whose guidance was sought by the GAPF that encouraged them to make the bid to host, the rest is now history.
At yesterday’s presser, Keller notified the media that Trinidad and Tobago’s team was encountering some difficulties back home with finances and their flight arrangements and was the only team not in Guyana. The organisers were in constant contact with T&T officials and Kaieteur Sport was informed that the 13-member T&T team was expected to arrive in Guyana last evening including a 16-year-old lifter.
The USA, Cayman Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are the other teams competing for top honours.
“We are going to push forward and have a great competition.
You are going to see some fantastic lifting by the likes of two-time Caribbean champion John Edwards, Mervin Moses, Randolph Morgan, we have some great athletes and some strong women who will also compete.”
“The performances are going to be world class, the quantity of athletes may not be there but I can assure you that you will see good quality performances.”
It was also reported by the NAPF Secretary General that a few officials and athletes were not able to get their luggage after arriving in Guyana on Thursday. Constant checks were being made with Caribbean Airlines to rectify the situation.
“Three athletes and three officials have lost their luggage and they have not done anything to help us, they need to get their act together, seriously.”
It was disclosed that one of the major challenges getting athletes here was the high cost of travel.
“There is no doubt about it, we would have had 70 to 100 athletes here but the airfares are outrageous. Caribbean Airlines is being very unfair to citizens that patronize their airlines.
We had discussion with them early enough to say offer us a discount.” Keller informed that the flight he came in on Thursday evening was empty.
Some 10% of the athletes are expected to be drug tested randomly. This would be done after the competition.
President of the GAPF Peter Green stated that he was satisfied with the way things have progressed to date while making special mention of Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony who he said was the only person that believed that they could have done it.
It was a challenge he said to organise the event, to garner sponsorship and to educate the public about the championships.
Apart from fierce rivalry on the stage, it was reported that donations of kind will be taken from the athletes and officials to support the victims of the recent earthquake that devastated Haiti. No finances will be accepted.

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GAPF applauded for great job, action starts at 11:00hrs today @ Princess Hotel

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