-as over 20 countries expected for Pan-American karate championships
By Marlon Munroe
The 11th International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Pan-American Championships was launched yesterday at the Cara Lodge Hotel with Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony calling for Guyana to continue the trend of executing quality international events.
In his feature address at the launch, Dr. Anthony reminded the gathering of Guyana’s hosting of the 2007 International Cricket Council’s World Cup competition and the country’s recent hosting of the preliminary matches of the ICC T20 World Cup tournament.
He said the execution of these events was a fillip for the Guyana Karate College (GKC), the host of the championships, to pattern what was done before.
The championships will be held from August 12-15 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and Guyana will field some 90 karatekas.
Twenty countries have already confirmed their participation at the games that will see over 500 athletes competing in the Kata and Kumite competitions, individually and as a team.
“This is the second time Guyana is hosting this tournament and in fact we are very pleased that after 21 years this tournament has returned to Guyana. Guyana, as you would have seen over the last couple of years, has acquired tremendous expertise in hosting international events and now we are setting a new benchmark,” Dr. Anthony said.
The first time Guyana hosted the tournament was in 1989. According to Dr. Anthony there are persons in the country with the requisite capability to put on a world class show.
“We (the country) have a track record and I think that track record is now allowing many of our national associations to go out with confidence and sometimes bid for events, getting new events to come to Guyana, things that have not been even tested here before and one of those events is rugby,” he said.
Several months ago, Dr. Anthony said, when the GKC approached his ministry for assistance, he was more than willing to offer a hand.
More particularly, he was pleased that the ISKF had placed its confidence in Guyana to host the championships and since the ministry recognised that the Organising Committee of the GKC was strong and vibrant it decided to “help in whatever way.”
He indicated that he had several meetings with the committee, which is headed by Colin Ming, and was updated on the logistics for the tournament.
The cost to host the tournament now stands at G$8 million after it was originally budgeted at G$15 million.
“I can say that there is a good, strong organising committee who has been working diligently behind the scene to make sure that we have all the components right. They also have several sub-committees that have been working very hard to raise money to make sure that the logistics are correct, to see where people will be accommodated, that all the facilities are in place and a whole host of other things that are required when you host international tournaments,” Dr. Anthony said.
The minister added that he was confident the GKC will exceed all expectations and hopefully this tournament will also help Guyana to not only plan a good event but ensure that Guyana’s athletes continue to assert themselves on the international scene.
He also hopes that karate, which means clean hands, will rank among sports’ success stories like boxing and cricket.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the ISKF Pan American Championships Committee, Shaun Mc Grath, speaking for Ming who was absent, declared that karate will take its place after this event.
He reflected that in 2008 local karatekas returned with 14 medals from the tournament that was held in Canada and last year, the 16-person team brought back 20 medals but there was no pomp and ceremony as is usual for some other sports. Guyana at those championships in St. Lucia won 10 gold, four silver and six bronze medals.
“Had these been boxing champions or cricket stars in 2008, we would have probably have seen motorcades from the airport, civic receptions and major media coverage. And the accomplishments of these dedicated athletes go for the best part unrecognised and unnoticed right here home in Guyana,” Mc Grath stated.
He said this opportunity, which is now twofold, will also give the people of Guyana a chance to see what the athletes have done in Canada and St. Lucia over the past two years.
Commenting on the scaling down of the $15 million budget, Mc Grath said that the GKC wanted to do everything for the visiting teams, which would have included transporting the teams and providing meals for the contingent. Now, the organising committee will be focusing on transporting the teams and the visitors will make provision for their meals for the championships.
Meanwhile, after the speeches black belt karatekas Kenny Wong, Ashley Lopes, Eric Hing, from the GKC, and Roger Peroune of the YMCA dojo, demonstrated an exhibition in kata, kumite and free style fighting.
