Massive turnout attends Athletics Academy Championship Meet

Feb 11, 2024 Sports

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and Vice Chairperson of the NSC, Cristy Campbell, took a photo op with the participants prior to the start of the event

Yesterday, the Athletics Academy Championship Meet was officially hosted at the Police Sports Complex Ground, Eve Leary, and saw an enormous turnout by the youths for what was described as the pillar of the emerging National Sports Academy.

Kaieteur News – The event, which was hosted by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), is an initiative in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and by extension the Government of Guyana.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle

According to the AAG, the meet catered to athletes age six to twelve and the aim is to “steer them in the right direction”.

At the opening, the Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, congratulated the president and executive members of the Athletic Association for ensuring that this academy is steered in the direction that aligns with the goals and objectives of the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and by extension the government of Guyana.

“We have approximately one hundred and sixty young athletes competing at this National Athletic Academy Meet. The number of regions being represented [today] underlines a very important fact that organized athletic training by experienced and certified coaches is being decentralized.”

He added, “We have taken note of the recent achievements with regard to our medal hauls at regional and international events, at the junior, youth, and senior levels and this academy is an important conduit for replicating and even improving our medal prospects on the international stage.”

Also present at the opening was Vice Chairperson of the NSC, Cristy Campbell, who said, “I would like to commend the executive of the AAG for overlooking this academy. I know that the athletes who are enrolled in the National Athletic Academy train 5 days every week and in seven different districts which include Linden, East Bank, North, east and South Georgetown, East Coast, and Berbice and I must say kudos to the coaches who are guiding these young athletes along the right path to transition to elite athletes.”

She added that, the NSC and MC YS remain committed to the sustenance of these academies. Their collaboration with the AAG also involves key stakeholders such as coaches and parents and while the NSC, the Ministry and Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Government of Guyana’s vision for the academies is to identify and develop talent in the youth of Guyana.

Campbell further stated, “We are also creating job opportunities for many coaches and relieving the financial burden of monthly coaching dues from hundreds or parents across Guyana since these academies are fully funded by the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, youth and sport and the National sports commission.”

Athletics is one of the 12 core sports identified to benefit from the National Sports Academy Programme.

Meanwhile, the AAG also informed that February 17 and 18 at the National Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara, will be the last trials to select the country’s team for the CARIFTA Games, which are set for March 30 – April 1 in Grenada.

Thus far, Tianna Springer (400m & 200m), Athaleya Hinckson (100m), Duel Europe (Long Jump), Attoya Harvey (1500m & 800m), Kaidon Persaud (400m & 800m), Javon Roberts (800m), Ezekiel Newton (100m & 200m), Charissa December (High Jump), Ryan Joseph (High Jump), and Jaheel Cornette (200m) have booked their spots.

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Cristy Campbell, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and Vice Chairperson of the NSC, Steve Ninvalle, took a photo op with the participants prior to the start of the event

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