Guyana’s Olympic team set for London

Jul 20, 2012 Sports

From left Sean Baksh (Swimming Coach), AAG President, Colin Boyce, GOA President, K.A Juman Yassin, Jeffrey Sankies (Judo Coach), and Chef-de-Mission, Dr. Karren Pilgrim
brief the media yesterday on Guyana’s Olympic hopefuls.

– Yassin says end “threats” to Pompey

The athletes identified to represent Guyana at the Olympic Games in London, England received words of encouragement yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) where they were presented to the media for the first time since their selection.
President of the GOA, Juman Yassin, informed the media that Winston George will be the flag bearer and lead the delegation during the March-Pass Procession. Yassin explained that George was chosen because he is a local athlete, who qualified being based in Guyana.
It was disclosed that at the March-Pass, the males will be attired in yellow while the females will be dressed in red; the flag-bearer will be wearing a cape on his back displaying the Kaieteur Falls and the Coat of Arms.
Yassin also expressed his disappointment over reported threats that are being sent to outstanding Olympian, Aliann Pompey from another camp. He alleged that supporters of world junior silver medalist, Kadecia Baird are the ones purportedly threatening Pompey.
Baird won a silver medal in the 400m last week at the World Junior Championships, and some are of the view that she should represent Guyana at the Olympics ahead of Pompey when Baird dipped under the ‘A’ Standard qualification mark for the Games.
“For an athlete to go to the Olympics, she/he has to be accredited. Kadecia’s name was not on the long sheet, which was submitted on March 23 because at that time we did not think she was capable enough, so she was not accredited,” explained Yassin.
“Aliann has served Guyana; she represented us for over 12 years and won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She also won medals at the Pan American Games,” he said. Pompey has also won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Yassin noted that he has been in communication with Baird’s Coach, Nicola Mitchell, since her victory, and he indicated to her that he would be happy to have Baird representing Guyana in the future. According to him, Mitchell gave him a positive response.
Chef-de-Mission of the Guyana Olympic Team, Dr. Karen Pilgrim and Colin Boyce, who is the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and will be attending the Games as the Athletics Manager, were all optimistic of Guyana’s performance.
The disciplines Guyana will take part in are athletics, judo and swimming. Winston George and Alian Pompey will compete in 400m men and women respectively while Jeremy Bascom will be competing in the 100m. George’s Coach, Lyndon Wilson and Pompey’s Coach, Joe Ryan will be the two athletic coaches in London.
The swimmers are Niall Roberts and Britany van-Lange. Both of them will swim in the 100m freestyle. Swimming Coach, Sean Baksh will accompany the swimmers. The lone Judoka is Raul Lall and he will compete in the under-60 kg category.
The Olympic Games will commence on July 27. The Guyana-based contingent leaves Guyana on Wednesday with Boyce set to travel on July 28 following the completion of the Police Athletics Championships.