Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, said yesterday that his ministry was looking to walk the walk with the national associations as they set sights on the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
At a press conference yesterday morning held at the ministry’s head office, Kumar was adamant that the only way forward to make some noise at the 2016 games was to come together, stop the idle talk and walk the walk.
“We are in discussions with the GASA (Guyana Amateur Swimming Association), GABA (Guyana Amateur Boxing Association) and the AAG (Athletics Association of Guyana) on plans on the way forward,” Kumar stated.
Programmes from all the associations which will be called ‘From now to Brazil’ which will detailed plan of the necessary forms of preparations and financial budgets and planned usage of facilities will have to be handed in to the Ministry of Sports in order for the government to help out in areas that they can.
“The experience of the national associations is imperative and we must also be able to gel with our overseas athletes and prepare to bring in high-level coaches as well,” Kumar stated.
According to Kumar, himself and the GASA have already had joint discussions with International coaches for swimming while a detailed programme for the next four years was also discussed.
“Never have such programmes been done with such detail but we are in the planning stage and plans to have more talks,” Kumar added.
With GASA explaining that the temperature was too cold for the local swimmers at the London 2012 Olympics, Stabroek Sport questioned Kumar if planned simulation exercises for local swimmers would be in plans for swimming.
“Well it is something we have not discussed. GASA did not bring it to my attention but we have plans to bring in the time clocks and other things but we must walk first,” Kumar stated.
Boxing, which has brought Guyana its only Olympic success in a bronze medal from Michael Parris, is also involved as Kumar has also been in talks with GABA and the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) to address the sport especially with regards to boxers turning professional too early.
“We had a discussion with both the GABA and the GBBC to address the issue of boxers going pro and how we can advance boxing for the better and one of the things we are looking at is improving the facilities,” Kumar said at the press conference.
With relation to athletics, president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AGG) Colin Boyce, who was also present, stated that one of the biggest developments will be a possible mini or High Performance Centre being constructed in the interior or in Linden because of the altitudinal difference to the coastland.
“Well, I’m sitting here and I’m happy to hear about some of the plans for our sportsmen and women but for us, setting up a possible mini or High Performance Centre in the hinterland or in Linden will be crucial because of the altitude difference. So athletes will be able to train and work hard for 2016,” Boyce told the media representatives present.
Meanwhile, Kumar, who has been quite critical of the performance of the Guyanese athletes at the London Olympic games, criticism which has not found favour with president of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) KA Juman Yassin said that he has nothing against the GOA or its president and is willing to work along with the GOA for better results in 2016.
“I don’t have anything against the GOA or its president. Myself and Yassin have been friends for a long time but we must work together now and I am willing to do so,” Kumar told the media.
Kumar said he plans to convene a meeting with the GOA and all the sub associations sometime in the future to discuss the future of Guyana at the Olympics.
