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Feb 06, 2012 Sports
Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, who has been around sports in Guyana for numerous years, described 2011 for sports in Guyana as a successful and good year during an interview at his office on Middle Street.
“Last year was an extremely good year for the National Sports Commission; a lot have been accomplished during this year,” he said.
Kumar related that without the coaches and sport organizers effort in ensuring the objectives were achieved then last year would not have been as productive as it was.
“The Coaches and sport organizers worked through tedious conditions in an effort to achieve their objectives to continue the previous year’s work, broaden their outreach programmes and place greater emphasis on coaching before actual competition so as to maintain a high level of sports development in all areas and at all levels.”
According to Kumar, the NSC launched other facilities for sport during last year and the country should expect more development as this year progresses with the youths mainly in mind.
He further noted that the NSC will be placing great emphasis on football, volleyball, table tennis, lawn tennis, basketball, chess, cycling, athletics, amateur boxing and cricket in the schools nationwide and would also be working side by side with the different sport associations as the year continues. Courses will also be held directly for teachers in schools to gain knowledge about the different sport activities.
He added that different nurseries will be organized for the array of sports across the country for students as both coaches and sport organizers will be working directly with the schools to aid in discovering new talent in Guyana with a National Schools’ Championships held at least annually for each sport.
NSC expenditure for last year was a total of $444,232,959 and projected this year’s budget to be $280,320,000.
Kaieteur sport gathered that with the sport facilities constructed and renovated during 2011 which the director of NSC disclosed caused the disbursement amounting to that cost.
Sport Facilities
The Aquatic Centre located at Liliendaal was one of the major facilities which were launched for sports in Guyana. The Centre was graced by the presence of Guyana’s youths, with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) being privileged to host the Nationals Schools’ Swimming Championship a few days after the official launching of the Pool, which can also be used as an international venue.
This publication was made to understand that developmental works will be conducted at the Aquatic Centre to construct a warm up pool which was not built the same time the pool was made.
The NSC Racquet Centre, on Woolford Avenue was completely reconstructed to house two international Tennis Courts, two Amateur Courts and also two international squash courts. The facility is expected to see some development to accommodate Table Tennis and Badminton with a Resource Centre.
The director revealed that extensive repairs were done to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) and the National Gymnasium (NG) to offer better usage as the venues are adequately utilized by the National Sports Associations/ Federations, Organisations, Churches, Clubs and Ministries to stage sports, recreational, religious, cultural and other activities.
He added that the ‘Fitness for life Gym’ in CASH continues to provide opportunities for Guyanese to be involved in activities which promotes healthy life-style.
Kumar noted that it would be a tremendous achievement when the synthetic track is completed later in the year since improved local performances will come from the local athletes which will lead them to more international successes.
The track is being constructed in Lenora, West Coast Demerara, and is in its second phase, according to Kumar. The circumference of the facility will comprise the synthetic track, as a field will be in the centre to accommodate football.
Through the instrumentality of the Guyana Volleyball Association (GVA), a Tara Flex Multi Floor was acquired from Gerfior, the leading indoor floor manufacturer in the world for the National Gymnasium. The Annual Mineral Water International Hockey Tournament was played on Tara Flex Multi floor at the Gymnasium.
Kumar indicated that ten multi-purpose courts were also constructed around Guyana for the schools to part take in volleyball, netball, basketball and lawn tennis.
The Colgrain Pool was also refurbished and re-commissioned by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony. (Juanita Hooper)
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