Interviews and photos by Melissa Charles and Sara Bharrat
This week we asked the man/ woman in the street about their favourites at the Olympic Games
Collin Christie, GPL employee:
‘I’m waiting for the boxing to begin. I haven’t been following the Olympics much this time around because I don’t have the time. However, I would like to be watching all of it. My favourite sport is boxing because I used to be a boxer and so I am enthusiastic about it. My brother is one of the boxers who made it to the Olympics in 1984. Most times you hardly find the Caribbean being represented there so I would always support the Cuban boxers. While I do follow the boxing events of our local boxers like Six-head during the usual 12-round fights I enjoy the Olympic fights which are short and sweet.’
Travis Kellman, private sector employee:
‘I’ve been watching the Olympics since it started which includes the opening ceremony and I was proud to see Guyana represented there during the march-past. The opening ceremony staged by the Chinese was just amazing. The dancing and art told so much about the country’s art and history. So far I’m waiting on the boxing to begin and I’ve been looking at the gymnastics competitions. I especially enjoyed the performance by that young Chinese gymnast who won the gold medal. While I don’t really know the athletes by names I watch them compete and it’s more exciting this time around because there are more sports involved in this Olympics.’
Tamika Chase, public sector employee:
‘The gymnastics simply amaze me and I would love to do what the athletes do. I used to do gymnastics at school but it wasn’t like what they do at the Olympics. I think that more sports should be incorporated into the school curriculum so that students can have something else to do. Some students would be able to turn a sport into their career like many of the Olympians. I’ve also been looking at the swimmer Michael Phelps. I enjoy watching him swim. Plus I understand there is a Guyanese who is suppose to be trying out in the heats but I am not sure for what even but it makes me proud. There are many talented athletes here in Guyana with the ability to make it as far as the Olympics but sadly they don’t have the facilities available to them. With the support of the government we can get them there.’
Nigel Haymer, banker:
‘Quite frankly there are no Guyanese there so I am not following the Olympic Games. It is depressing. There are a lot of Guyanese with talent but the resources are not there. Sponsorship is not available but I think that if a few members of the private sector wanted to they could remedy this. There are many talented Guyanese athletes who are getting to be seen. I saw in the newspapers that there was one particular female athlete who won a few gold medals at the Caribbean games and I was disappointed when I realized she wasn’t sent to the Olympics. I think business people who can afford it should take more pride in being Guyanese and assist in sponsoring our athletes.’
Paul Thom, self-employed:
‘I haven’t begun to watch the Olympic Games yet. I hardly have the time. At the end of my work day I’m tired and I have to prepare for work the next day so it leaves me with very little time. I’ve been catching the updates on the news though and I like the swimming competitions best. While I haven’t gotten the chance to follow the progress of the American swimmer Michael Phelps I did watch him in 2004 and I want him to win again this time around. I must say though that although I enjoyed watching the opening ceremony staged by the Chinese it was a very disappointing thing to see that Guyana was one of the last countries acknowledged during the marching. But overall the opening ceremony was very artistic I was amazed.’
Morris Fordyce, security:
‘I check out the Olympics from time to time. I’m following the swimming with Michael Phelps. He is just extraordinary. Gymnastics is the other sport I try to keep abreast of. I love that Russian female gymnast; she knows to do what she does. However, I think the Chinese judges are being unfair. A number of people mentioned it.’
Raphael Eastman, self-employed:
‘I’ve watched about four Olympics. Been following the games from 1989 to now and the China opening was different. It was wonderful. China is one of the most extravagant and beautiful countries and everything they did at the opening ceremony was different and new. It gave you a blast of Chinese culture. The boxing, track and field and gymnastics attract me because they are extremely physical sports. The gymnastics is special because it combines athletics and art. Thus far the Americans have been dominating in a lot of event but at least some Caribbean people managed to get recognized and some add to what they’ve already achieved. Since 1989 there hasn’t been much development in the sporting area. I see no cycling tracks and athletes still have to run on plain grass. Guyanese athletes have a lot of talent and if they were given proper sporting facilities they would be able to excel.’
Nalinie Dinoo, cosmetologist:
‘Yes I’ve been following the Olympics somewhat but only the swimming. I guess I prefer following that because it’s a shorter competition and you get to see who wins faster. I like to look at the gymnasts do their thing but I hardly get to watch them because they’re on mostly in the evening. The opening ceremony was totally amazing. The whole bird theme and the combination of art and history was wonderful and it left me shocked when I realized it was really hundreds of humans performing to create those images. To tell you the truth I don’t think a lot of people follow the Olympics because it’s not really our thing.’
Sydney Armstrong, UG student:
‘I’ve been following the Olympics on and off; especially the swimming. Michael Phelps is fantastic and I’ve been looking at him from the beginning. I enjoy watching Phelps swim because of his enthusiasm for the sport and his stamina. Not many athletes can swim two and three races a night without getting burnt out. I would still follow the Olympics whether or not a Guyanese is out there competing.’
Heston Clarke, self-employed:
‘I like the gymnastics. I like looking at all the jumping and twisting they do with their bodies. I want to know why I haven’t seen a Guyanese out there as yet. In the track and field events if there isn’t a Caribbean athlete there I would support the South Africans or the United States. It doesn’t matter to me that whether it’s amateur boxing or professional because the pros were once beginners as well.’
