– Sport minister promises Aquatic Centre soon
Competitors in the Guyana Amateur Swimming Associa-tion (GASA) Goodwill Swimming Championships at Castellani Pool, Home-stretch Avenue, were urged yesterday by Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony to draw inspiration from the Olympians.
The 14th annual Goodwill Games opened with the minister and president of GASA Phillip Walcott taking a march past from the teams and officials.
The officials as well as the athletes then took their professional oath with the officials swearing to officiate impartially in the spirit of the sport and the athletes swearing to keep the meet drug free.
Following this four athletes representing each of the participating countries, with bottled water representing the water of their respective countries, performed a ceremony called “Merging of the Water” and this according to chairperson Joanne Lowe signified a united family.
Meanwhile in his address to the competitors Dr. Anthony said that this is one of the most significant games and the competitors drawn from Barbados, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and host nation Guyana should “make sure that they compete in the spirit of brotherhood.”
He added that the competitors should be role models for youths, noting that in light of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in society, they could act as peer educators to help quell the epidemic.
Local Aquatic Centre
Meanwhile, Anthony made a pronouncement that was received with rapturous applause from the athletes, officials, and persons present when he said that, “Guyana is presently in the early stage of constructing an Aquatic Centre that will be fitted with Olympic size swimming as well as diving pools.”
Additionally, Walcott in giving his charge to the teams acknowledged that this meeting is being held at the same time with the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the competitors should take a page from the Olympians and represent their country with a sense of pride.
Acknowledging that this event is at the developmental stage here, Walcott encouraged the swimmers to “dream big and think about the 2012 (London) Olympics.”
