By Tamica Garnett
The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) yesterday afternoon officially launched the Under-23 Games in the boardroom of sponsors Digicel.

President of the AAG, Colin Boyce, and Council Member, Lyndon Wilson, represented the association while Public Relations and Events Manager Shonnet Moore and Sales Manager Dwayne Scott were present on Digicel’s behalf.

Also present were five of the athletes who are preparing for the upcoming meet.

Boyce stated that the pressing need for such a meet had been realised earlier this year when, in an unfortunate series of events, the AAG was unable to hold trials for the South American Under-23 Games.

Boyce noted that the association was “somewhat caught with their pants down” when they were pressed by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to submit the names of the selected athletes before they were able to  hold the trials, forcing them to impulsively send up Chavez Ageday.

He stated that the Under-23 Games, which they wish to add to the AAG’s annual calendar, would provide a means for the association to identify such athletes early on.

In addition, Boyce stated, the meet would act as a guide for those athletes transitioning from the junior to senior categories.

Other officials stated that this meet would play a major role in guiding the athletes from the junior category to the senior category.

“Many athletes fall to the wayside when they finish the junior category,” Boyce noted. “It is during this transition phase from junior to senior that many athletes decide to give up in track and field.”

Rupert Perry, one of the athletes at yesterday’s launch, stated that the meet was a very innovative move which gave athletes like him “the chance to shine.”

Perry stated that he never got an opportunity to participate in the junior category, since he made his debut in athletics late in life and was forced to make his entrance in the senior category, which left him at a great disadvantage.

Wilson, in a previous interview with Stabroek Sport, had stated that the upcoming inaugural Under-23 Games was a productive step towards reaching out to the needs of those athletes moving from the junior category to the senior stage.

The national coach had stated that for many athletes the passage from the junior to the senior category was a trying one since, while the athletes are placed there because of their age, they are not always fully prepared to deal with the height of competition they are hit with at that level.

Upon first entering the senior category the athletes are forced to compete against much older athletes who had already adjusted fully to the demands of the category.

Wilson observed that many of the athletes become discouraged during this passage and may even opt to give up the sport before their skills can fully mature.

“As a coach I am very happy. The athletes can see how they are progressing…” Wilson stated yesterday.

“As youngsters they like to be winners and when they find they cannot be winners anymore, because they are competing against older athletes, they give up,” he added.
The Under-23 Games are expected to bridge this gap and further aid in the AAG’s overall commitment to the development of the sport in Guyana. Moore stated that Digicel was very pleased about assisting in the funding of this venture towards developing the sport because the company is all about “bigger better” things.  The meet is billed to take place on May 30 at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. Some 32 events are scheduled including all track and field events except high jump.

In addition, a take-away lunch fundraiser will be held alongside the meet.

The meet is open only to club athletes between the ages of 16–22 years and a registration cost of $1000 will be charged for each athlete. Though the meet is not exclusively for clubs, most of those participating are expected to be club athletes since the age range will exclude most school-age students.

The AAG will for the first time in a track event be awarding monetary prizes to the top four clubs.   Boyce stated that they are not quite ready to disclose the magnitude of the prizes, but it will be substantial enough to enhance the winning clubs’ “standing point” where finances are concerned.