By Tamica Garnett
President of the Guyana Olympic Association K. Juman Yassin yesterday severely criticized the government over its lack of financial support for sports teams leaving these shores to attend international competitions.
At a press conference held at Olympic House High Street, Yassin said the government was quick to congratulate athletes who have performed but was failing in its responsibility to give financial assistance to the very athletes.
He was especially critical over the fact that the government did not contribute a cent to the US$70,000 it cost to send the team to the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez Puerto Rico recently.
“For the CAC Games it cost the GOA and the associations over US$70, 000. The airfare per person to get to Puerto Rico was over US$1000, and, unfortunately, the support from the government to go to the CAC games has so far been negligible.” Yassin asserted
“It is important to point out that for Guyana to attend any games it costs a lot of money and to my mind it is somewhat unfair to leave all the financial aspects to the associations, “Yassin charged.
“I believe that the government must consider assisting associations financially,” he added
Guyana wins, we all win ——
“It is unfair, because when Guyana wins we all win. And when we win medals abroad the compliments emanate from the government, from the ministers.
“Speaking for the GOA, we are happy to get the compliments, but it is also important for there to be tangible assistance.
“And now, while it is said by members of the government that they assist in that they help the athletes from the schools or that they have new camps or whatever, when you go to international competitions that is not enough,” Yassin declared.
“We have athletes going to the Commonwealth Games, they need to be trained, they need to have supplements and several other things and who is to give it to them, the associations, the athletes themselves, family. Or must there not be some assistance from the government?”
He said that athletes needed help when they are not participating in competitions.
“Because before the competitions they have to train, they have to eat, they have to have money for transportation, and my plea is for the government to really come on board, to really come on board and lend some assistance.”
The GOA, according to Yassin has been trying over the years to fill the gaps and assist athletes whenever they can.
He said that for this year so far the GOA has extended assistance to athletes Aliann Pompey and Cleveland Forde.
The GOA, he said, also pumped over $300, 000 into rugby and the Guyana men’s Sevens side responded by winning Guyana’s only gold medal at the CAC Games.
“The GOA tries to assist the athletes. We have given financial assistance to help in the training of Aliann Pompey, Cleveland Forde and Adrian Spelling, despite the fact that he is living abroad. We have assisted him. We have made financial contribution, I do believe it was over $300, 000, to rugby early on this year to assist them,” he stated
Yassin also said that Nicolette Fernandes has also received assistance from the GOA.