Sports Editorial

May 24, 2015 Sports

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Congratulations are in order for the newly elected APNU and AFC government led by His Excellency David Granger.  It has been an interesting few days as the formation of the government for the next five years take shape and the positive and assertive moves being made by President Granger in getting the job of nation building and in some cases rebuilding underway.
Recent issues with equipment loss and unaccountably in funding at the National Sports Commission and the Department of Sport is regrettable. Previously ‘strugglemania’ entailed in obtaining the requisite and adequate funding for sports in Guyana. Many sports association complained of little or no funding. The lack of a proper sports policy added to the ad hoc way in which things were looked at and dealt with.
Three major facilities were built by the past government, namely the National Stadium, Aquatic Centre and the Synthetic Track. However, the issue of exorbitant costs and adequate usage has come up.
The past is past and while we must refer to it on the way forward, the future is now and must be grasped with both hands and moved forward by this new administration. The future of our youths is at stake as many are waiting with bated breath and much expectation.  While we wait we cannot put unrealistic expectations and demands on the new administration but they must move to address the many issues that prevail.
Addressing a comprehensive sports policy is key. Ensuring many community grounds are rehabilitated is important as is funding for sports in general. We have the talent but the think tank must be in place to ensure proper strategies are there to exploit those talents.  I have written about sports tourism previously, its importance and propensity to be a big money earner.
President Granger spoke recently during a television interview about boosting our tourism product.  He must also seriously look at sports tourism. Minister of Sports Dr Rupert Roopnarine and team must be so inclined to see this and other aspects of sport take off and the much needed funding be produced.
It’s a tough job for the new government in general but specific goals must be set. Based on the pledges made and the integrity of many of the goodly gentlemen touted taking up various positions led by President Granger and Prime Minister elect Moses Nagamootoo, we can expect a seriousness and desire to see this nation succeed.
Success comes by proper planning and hard work. For too long athletes have been representing this dear land of ours will little or no support on many occasions.  When sports was treated with some degree of respect and preeminence, Guyana won its first and only Olympic medal, bronze by boxer Michael Parris in Moscow in 1980.  Since then, nothing, what a sad state of affairs. Sport has become big business, not just in the developed world, but right here among our Caribbean neighbours.
Trinidad and Tobago has a professional football league where a number of our players ply their trade and earn a living. Our leading hockey players are currently involved in the T&T hockey league to get much needed practice ahead of upcoming international engagements.  To gain some semblance of top flight status our athletes have to travel overseas to get the necessary training to rank on the international circuit.    It has been determined that talent will not only take an athlete thus far, but proper training would get them over the line.
Guyana’s rugby has done extremely well, hockey has improved but with the right help they and others can go exceedingly far.
The new administration must take a pattern from sister Caribbean state Jamaica who has developed their football, athletics and netball brand to become world class. Proper plans were laid out and the government ploughed the requite funds coupled with private sector funding and the Jamaican product over the years has evolved into a marketable brand recognized worldwide.  Jamaica has been ranking with England and New Zealand in netball of recent. Their athletics has produced some of the fastest athletes including the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt. Just last year a team of European athletes travelled to Jamaica to train under Bolt’s coach, the famed Glen Mills, to get a feel of top flight preparation that has produced the best. Jamaica’s school athletics programme is unrivalled, hence the churning out of top class athletes. Their international meets also attracts the best in the world, boosting their sports tourism product.
The question was asked before, why can’t Guyana either send a team of athletes and their coaches or a few coaches to learn what entails in Jamaica and try to tailor a system to help our athletes?  Officials previously seemed disinterested.  Would the new administration be looking to do what is necessary to ensure the local talent is correctly harnessed and Guyana rival and even dominate their Caribbean rivals. The feeder system, our schools, is of utmost importance. Is a proper schools sports programme being look at to be reintroduced.  It is heartening to see the Sports ministry and the Education ministry under Dr Roopnarine. It should result in the heightening of sports in the school system and also ensuring young athletes work on their academics.  In this developed world we live in they go hand in glove.
Its early days yet, let’s give them the space to clean up and then fix house, but time waits on no one, so Guyana will be watching to see what is done. We look forward to a better dispensation for our young and talented athletes where they receive proper training and adequate funding for overseas and other preparation.

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