Despite insignificant funding from the past administration, the disciplines of powerlifting and rugby have undoubtedly been the two most successful indoor and outdoor sports in the last decade.
Under the newly elected government, Peter Green, president of the two standout sporting bodies is looking to work closely with the Ministry of Sport to give the disciplines a higher profile.
Stabroek Sport sat down with Green yesterday and the member of the National Sports Commission discussed some of the things that should be on the to-do list of the new sports minister who is supposed to be named later in the week.
Adequate funding and ‘homes’ for the two disciplines were high on the agenda.
Powerlifting
Said Green “I would like to see the new administration completing what Dr. Anthony had started by promising a new home for powerlifting. Having given us equipment earlier in the year, we need now for the sport to have a base, not only for powerlifting but for weightlifting and other strength sports.”
Green insists that “This will assist the federation greatly to lift the sport locally and allow us to host international competitions.
The head of the powerlifting federation disclosed that he presented drawings to the former Minister of Sport which would have seen construction starting next year. “It is the federation’s hope that the new minister see that this project comes into fruition.”
Green noted that the executive of the federation remains ready and willing to meet the new minister of sport “to discuss the way forward and ways and means that we can work together to help the ascension of the sport on the sporting map.”
Sports Policy
Before touching on rugby, Green stressed the need for the urgent completion of the long awaited Sports Policy.
“Chief among these should be the elite athletes and teams that have been putting Guyana on the map. They should be given priority when it comes to funding, distinctly separate from their associations and federations.”
Rugby
The seven-time NACRA 7s champions remain the only sports team for Guyana that can still qualify for next year’s Olympic Games but substantial funding and a ‘home’ of its own continues to be a fantasy.
“Rugby faces the same predicament as powerlifting. We use only the National Park which is the only facility available to rugby in Guyana.
There is a need for a home for rugby to be established since it has been putting Guyana on the sports map regionally and internationally.”
Green on Funding
“Funding will also have to be addressed since the cost of teams traveling to compete range sometimes from $7M to $10M per exercise. Unless rugby can develop its own facilities at home and invite teams to compete here, it will have to resign itself to continue to request funding from all areas of society including the government.”
The male and female 7s teams are scheduled to compete in the NACRA 7s Olympic Qualifiers in North Carolina from June13 but the union is still ‘in the red’ to the tune of $4M. The sum was promised by the past administration and Green is hoping that whoever takes over the reins fulfills the commitment.
“It is my hope that the new sports administration will address these issues immediately as we continue to try to move the sport forward.”
Individual athletes and sports teams have no chance of elite success without adequate funding. ‘Change’ was the mantra used by the new administration on the campaign trail. Sport in Guyana needs just that, a change for the better.
