Some 23 swimmers have qualified to participate in at least one event at the upcoming Goodwill Games at the National Aquatic Centre from August 17 – 19.
Team manager of the Guyana team, Jean La Rose, told this publication that 23 swimmers in several age groups, including two swimmers from Linden and one swimmer from Region One have made qualifying times.
La Rose explained that a further swim off is scheduled to be held on August 7 to give other swimmers a chance to still qualify for the meet, as several swimmers could not participate in the Goodwill trials that was held a few weeks back.
One of those swimmers was Soroya Simmons, who did not participate in the trials because of injury.
While the exact number of athletes that will participate is still yet to be determined, La Rose said that Guyana will be unable to field the maximum 40 athletes to participate at the event.
She explained that the swimming fraternity had lost several athletes during the period when the pools were unavailable.
“I do not see us getting the full 40. We’ll have about 30 maybe, but not the full 40.
“Our swimmers only recently started back training after we had to deal with the closure of the pools last year. A lot of the swimmers found other things to do. We have a lot of rebuilding to be done due to the closures,” she added.
Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) and a member of the organizing committee for the Regional meet, Dee George, said that other countries have already confirmed their participation at the event.
The Goodwill Swimming Championships usually takes place among swimmers from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Barbados. The host nation is also afforded the privilege of inviting a fifth nation to join in the competition. George mentioned that St Lucia had been expected to join the meet but pulled out.
Of the countries participating, Suriname, the defending champions, is expected to send the maximum 40 swimmers while Barbados is scheduled to have 29 swimmers on their delegation. According to George, T&T has asked for an extension before submitting their list of participants. They are expected to submit their list by Friday.
The four countries usually take turns in hosting the tournament, Guyana last hosted the tournament in 2008, when it was held at the Castellani Swimming Pool.
The championships are a short course event.
The meet is expected to cost $16 million which George said, was being covered by a number of sponsors. She assented that preparations for the meet have, thus far, been coming along smoothly.
“A few additions have to made. We still have to get some special ropes for the pool, they’re called wave breakers. We still have to get those, and we’re still a couple millions short which we’re working on too. We [the organizing committee] have been meeting every week for the past two months so we’re prepared.” George said, in an invited comment.
Swimmers are expected to begin arriving on August 16.
