In the world of politics, at least US politics, one word “Change” seems set to, pardon the pun, change the history of US politics as we, in Guyana know it.
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s presidential aspirations have been fuelled by that word which encompasses a desire to do things differently.
Here in Guyana, and in a different sphere, sports (not politics) there is need for those who chart the course for the sportsmen and women of today and tomorrow to attempt a similar undertaking; that is if there is a genuine desire to improve the country’s image not only in the Caribbean but further afield.
If there was one word to describe this country’s participation at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, that word would not be a change from one used to assess previous performances and that word would be “disappointing.”
One wonders how the local sports administrators feel when year after year of competition in regional and other international meets, this country’s athletes turn out to be nothing more than also rans.
Sports in Guyana cannot continue to be simply “Sports as usual,” and the time is ripe for there to be some change to the present modus operandi.
The problems affecting sports in Guyana are myriad and have been cited often but sadly, the cries of the sportsmen and women of today seem to be falling on deaf ears.
What would it take for those in charge of sports in this country to wake up from their slumber and find out that sports elsewhere (but apparently not in Guyana) is serious business?
It certainly hasn’t taken the performances of the Guyana team to the Beijing Olympic Games.
Nor have they been jolted by a `bolt’ named Usain, whose record-breaking performances for Jamaica made that country the target of criticism from none other than probably the greatest Olympian ever on the field that is, Carl Lewis.
The recent dismal performance of the assorted collection of athletes that went as representatives of this nation at the Beijing Olympic Games is cause for concern in many quarters.
Certainly, there should be an inquiry as to why this nation’s performances at the Olympics over the years have been so poor, Michael Parris’ bronze medal notwithstanding.
On the face of it, there seems to be absolutely no reason why a nation that is filled with talented athletes cannot accredit itself with a measure of respect internationally like fellow Third World countries Jamaica, Trinidad and to a lesser extent Barbados.
Yesterday, another national team comprising boxers and table tennis players departed Guyana for Pune, India to participate in the third Junior Commonwealth Games a tournament which caters for athletes under the age of 19.
The athletes might accredit themselves well at the October 12-18 games. Some of them might even be fortunate enough to win medals. But whatever the outcome, the preparation of the team left a lot to be desired.
Former Prime Minister during the People’s National Congress 28 years in office Hamilton Green recently visited the boxers’ during a training session and was appalled at what he saw.
This country’s medal hopefuls just a couple of days before their departure, were training on a wooden floor at the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym in Albouystown while the Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis Gym which has better facilities lay unused, like a white elephant.
Speaking to a boxing officialknowledgeable on the dangers posed by having the boxers train on the wooden floor, he said the boxers ran the risk of injury to their backs, knees and feet which could very well affect their performances in India.
Who cares? Probably only `Hammy’.
On another note president of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) Affeeze Khan said he wrote the relevant authorities concerning the waiver of the airport tax and the 15 per cent tax on the tickets for the boxers who are going to India as well as the four-member female boxing team currently in Trinidad and Tobago at the Pan American Women Championships and has received no response.
Stabroek Sports was unable to get a comment from those responsible but an official of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) said that if Khan wrote the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, it would have to be for the Trinidad trip and not the Junior Commonwealth Games.
According to the GOA official, the GOA has a position that if the tickets are being paid for then they would not request the tax exemption from the government.
In this case, the tickets have been purchased by the GOA and the money for the eight athletes (four boxers and four table tennis players) is to be refunded by the Indian government.
The GOA official said that the relevant associations, the GTTA and the GABA, are paying for the tickets of the coaches Johnson and Carl Franklyn while the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is paying for boxing coach Terrence Poole.
Though this is a national team the government has not made any financial contribution to the team’s participation.
One would have thought that when the team paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sam Hinds prior to their departure that there would have been some disclosure of importance to the team’s participation in the form of government support, financially or otherwise, but all the team got was the good wishes of the Prime Minister.
It is not difficult to imagine how much the associations had to scrounge to get the G$340,000 to pay for the tickets of the two coaches Johnson and Franklyn and those that contributed to that effort should be publicly commended for their nationalism.
Stabroek Sports has learnt that not even the Ministry of Sports where Johnson is employed has contributed to the purchase of his ticket.
It is the hope that the team does well, but this nation should not be too optimistic about medals.
For unless the general culture which abounds in sports in Guyana changes, Guyana’s performances at future international meets will continue to be mediocre.
