GTTA host high-profiled Award, Closing Ceremony

Dec 14, 2010 Sports

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– Association get kudos from Prime Minister

By Edison Jefford

There was unanimous concurrence from major stakeholders Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall that table tennis is ascending at an incredibly fast rate and the momentum needs to be sustained for the sport to achieve its goals and objectives.
The positive consensus was established at the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Awards and Closing Ceremony that followed the completion of the Vita Malt National Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall over the last two weekends.
Many high-profiled corporate and public officials were present to witness what was definitely an occasion to believe that the sport is on mainstream evolution. Before the official addresses, there was a forum where all the outstanding players were rewarded.
Apart from the players, the association also recognised those corporate entities that supported its programmes both locally and internationally with Certificates of Appreciation and Plaques. After those presentations, there were four brief, but major addresses.
Performing the duties of President of the Cooperative Republic Guyana in the absence of Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds said that he is overwhelmed with the participation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s role in the national event.
“We are pleased with our people’s participation in sports and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport assisting in ways that it could. There is a need to have our people participate in games and sport,” Hinds told the audience during his remarks.
He said that table tennis is not “so costly to arrange and organise” and it is one of the events that people, as they grow older, can participate in to maintain a healthy lifestyle apart from its serious competitive functions such as the National Championships.
“We are looking forward to the day when we will go and turn the sod (at the Racquet Centre) to get that (table tennis) building going. Let’s take table tennis to the highest heights in Guyana,” he said, referencing a proposed $50M Headquarters for table tennis.
GTTA President, Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene had spoken of the $50M “home for the sport of table tennis” before the Prime Minister. Greene indicated that his association is devoted to raising the money for the unprecedented facility for the sport.
The proposed cite is at the Racquet Centre, which is currently under construction on Woolford Avenue. Earlier this year, it was disclosed that the Centre is geared at accommodating all racquet type sport with respective associations having their own space.
“We will be signing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the ministry shortly. Table tennis is back! We have given out $1.2M in prizes so far and we are sending teams overseas,” the GTTA President said in his enthusiastic presentation.
Greene noted that it is necessary to keep exposing players so that their International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rating would mount. He said conversely, it is compulsory to have those United States-based players compete in the GTTA national competitions.
“People want to be part of the game and we have to ensure it that happens. We are sending tables to the region as we continue to expand the sport. Keep playing table tennis and keep supporting a high-quality table tennis programme,” Greene said in closing.
In his remarks, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony concurred with the belief that table tennis is on the right track. He informed that his ministry believed that Greene had the personality to place the sport in the direction that it should move toward development.
“I am very, very pleased with what I have seen here tonight. We had encouraged Greene to run for the Presidency of table tennis because we believe the sport was lacking dynamism and he has that type of personality,” Anthony indicated.
“What we have seen over a few months have revitalised table tennis. Greene and his team have moved the sport forward. It’s not about just competitions, but it’s about their vision that includes owning their own building etcetera,” the minister continued.
Dr. Anthony believes that the GTTA vision to build the $50M facility should be nationally supported since, in his view, if a national association has its personal building then there would be adequate time and “space” for that association to run its programmes.
He said that the collaborative efforts of the association, which would climax with the MOU is in line with what the National Sports Policy and Plan is propagating. Anthony stated that he will be anticipating an even more exciting 2011 from the association.
Banks DIH Banks Beer Manager, Brian Choo-Hen, at his turn at the podium, reiterated his company’s commitment toward the development of sport, stating that he hopes that the relationship with the GTTA would be on a long-term basis.

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