Literary critic, poet, novelist and cricket writer extraordinaire Ian McDonald (AA) has commended the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for establishing and maintaining the tradition of celebrating the country’s sporting heroes.
Mc Donald made the comment Saturday evening at Georgetown Club the GOA’s appreciation and Awards ceremony.
“To me, it gives evidence of a thoughtful and imaginative organization concerned not only with the development of sport in Guyana, but also concerned to recognize the long contribution of sport and sportsmen and sportswomen of our nation through the year,” said McDonald whilst delivering the feature address.
Stating that he was very impressed with the many advances Guyana has made in a number of sporting disciplines Mc Donald declared that he has seen success in many areas of sport.
“It is noteworthy that often it has been women who are doing their sport and Guyana proud,” McDonald said whilst highlighting the contributions of Guyana’s women in sport which was well received by the females in attendance.
“There has been a significant advance in activity and success when you add it all up and it is not only on the field of contest that progress is being made. In the provision of infrastructure and facility there have also been great progress.
“Should these and other facilities be well maintained and frequently and regularly used, our future in sport will be bright. The Minister of Sport and his team, and the associations. are to be greatly congratulated.
“I for one, sense vibrancy in the sporting year that I have not sensed for a long time,” he added.
However, McDonald emphasized that there is one exception which generally needs commenting on and this is the recent debacle that has been plaguing the administration of cricket in Guyana.
McDonald described the situation as an “embarrassment,” while adding that “it is absolutely mortifying for all lovers of that great game.
“The players and cricket itself are the huge losers by this destructive infighting that’s going on,” he added.
The sporting icon, who played at Wimbledon, explained that he understands that cricket is not an Olympic sport but called on the GOA to intervene if possible, and help broker peace and cooperation for good administration and accountability.
McDonald also seized the opportunity to state a number of developments that he would like to see and which according to him will be valuable as Sport in Guyana continues to make progress.
“They [proposed developments] are not at all original, but they get down to the bedrock,” he explained.
Firstly, McDonald advised that all of Guyana’s sports associations make a firm resolution to strengthen and streamline the efficiency of their administration.
“Sporting success comes not only on courts and fields of play and arenas, but very fundamentally in the daily attention to the details of financing and organizing by the officials in charge.
“They are not there for the power and glory; they are there to facilitate the participation and superior performance of the sportsman and athletes themselves,” he pointed out.
McDonald proposed that associations pay constant attention to fundraising and “proper and meticulous” accounting for the money they have raised and spent. He noted that associations should complement this with prompt preparation of annual audited financial statements “for public consumption” and the presentation of detailed annual reports for what has been done and future plans.
Continuing McDonald said: “I again make a plea for every sport association to research and publish a history of the sport in Guyana.
“Even if there are gaps, even if reports seem sparse, see what records there are, visit old newspapers and magazines and archives, which are much better organized now.
“When we compete, our sportsmen should compete with a sense of the history and tradition of our sports,” he said. As part of recording the history of their respective sport McDonald also recommended that all sports associations have Halls of Fame, so that sportsmen and women, who have performed notably in their day, can be recorded.
“They should not be allowed to vanish into the air,” said McDonald, a former administrative director of the Guyana Sugar Corporation.
Furthering his attention to other issues surrounding sport, McDonald made a special plea that the Bourda Cricket ground be preserved and not be forgotten as “one of the great cricket grounds of the world.
“As far as I know, no living person has been a member of the Georgetown Cricket Club longer than myself… 55 years… 55 years, many memories,” McDonald proudly declared.
“Please let Bourda be preserved, not only in our memories,” was his impassioned plea.
As a legend in the sporting arena himself, McDonald, who in 1977 received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of the West Indies, emphasized that there is sporting talent among Guyana’s young people, “more often than not from struggling families,” and encouraged these youths and the associations to seek scholarships overseas. “All sports associations worldwide are rapidly expanding their reach and their popularity and their search for the very best wherever they may be.”McDonald asked that local association actively pursue sporting scholarships for the country’s youths, particularly in America.
“It’s true that these young men and women will be lost for a while from the local scene, but not forever, they will return to represent us. There are thousands of scholarships out there, young Guyanese must get there share.”
Guyana Times’ Sports Journalist Kiev Chesney was voted Sports Journalist of the Year (Olympic Sports) while Patrick Holder received an award for his contribution to the development of sports.
Also receiving awards were Dennis Diaz (squash), Grace Mc Almont, (lawn tennis), Randolph Roberts (cycling) and John Lewis (rugby).
Charles Corbin was voted the GOA’s Council Member of the year while Linden Ross received an award for his support of the programmes of the GOA.
The IOC trophy for inspiring young people went to the Food for the Poor Organisation.
Saturday’s ceremony was chaired by Noel Adonis while GOA Secretary General, Ivor O’Brien, reported on the activities of the body for the year 2010.
President of the GOA K Juman Yassin also made a few remarks while the vote of thanks was done by Hector Edwards assistant secretary/ treasurer of the GOA.
