The Guyana Olympic Association is looking to ensure that locally-based 400 metres sprinter Winston George has the best opportunity to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics and plans are also in place to set up the best all-round team for the summer games.
George who became the first locally-based track and field athlete to qualify for the July 27 to August 12 games is expected to leave for a training camp in Jamaica during the first week in February through the sponsorship of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), according to president of the GOA, KA Juman-Yassin.
“At the moment it’s Winston George and we are planning to send him to Jamaica in conjunction with the AAG (Athletics Association of Guyana) and the Police Force which would be sponsored by the GOA and Police. We are looking for this to happen by the first week in February,” Yassin told Stabroek Sport.
In addition to George’s training camp, the GOA is in the final stages of setting up their own programme here for a team of 25 athletes from various sporting disciplines, namely boxing, table tennis, swimming, cycling, track and field, and hopefully Taekwondo.
“We are organizing another programme in Guyana where athletes from boxing, table tennis, swimming, track and field, and cycling will get a chance to train towards the games… I also have to try and get an athlete from Taekwondo to be involved. The programme will have a total of 25 athletes as well,” Yassin disclosed.
With the programme scheduled to be in place within a week’s time, it is expected to have arrangements in place for different trainers, physiotherapists, health care and nutrition.
“We are also looking to have trainers, physiotherapists, health care and vitamins provided for these athletes in order for them to have a chance of qualifying,” Yassin told Stabroek Sport in the interview.
Yassin also pointed out that Guyana’s two-time Commonwealth gold medallist Aliann Pompey is also in receipt of assistance from the GOA.
“We are also assisting Aliann financially so as to help her along with training,” Yassin told Stabroek Sport.
Meanwhile, Yassin also expressed his expectations for Guyana’s Olympic prospects.
“Well I’m hoping for the best, I can’t really say at this point but I hope our athletes would medal,” Yassin said cautiously.
