If the recent discussions between the Director of Sports Christopher Jones and the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) bear fruit, the sports of table tennis could receive a massive shot in the arm which could lead to improved player development and better results internationally.
According to a press release, the GTTA, has made a proposal to Jones for a Chinese player/coach to come here for a period of one to two years.
This was one of several proposals made by a GTTA delegation which paid a two-hour visit to Jones’ Homestretch Avenue Office last week.
According to the release, its executive committee met with Jones and discussed plans and projects of the GTTA in both the long and short term.
Jones, who also gave his input, said that he was enthused by the development projects outlined by the GTTA and pledged his support to ensure that the sport develops.
The meeting with the GTTA top brass was the first of several meeting Jones plans to have with national federations to discuss their programmes and projections for the respective sports disciplines, added the release.
The GTTA, in outlining its position with respect to a player/coach from China coming here for a stint, sought Jones’ support in convincing the Government of Guyana to engage the People’s Republic of China via the Chinese Embassy/Ambassador here for a coach to visit through existing bilateral relations between the two countries.
GTTA president Godfrey Munroe also engaged Jones’ support in seeking the Chinese Government’s consent to provide training opportunities in High Yield Training Environments for the country’s top and most promising players. Additionally Munroe wants Jones to engage countries such as Japan, Korea, France, Austria and Brazil in providing training stints along similar lines, for elite athletes at different age levels.
Munroe also outlined the GTTA’s plans for the introduction and implementation of a National Schools Table Tennis Programme which the release stated would be an integral part of the association’s long term athlete development strategy (LTADP).
The need for the GTTA to have its own facility was also explored by the executive committee in its meeting with Jones and, according to the release, there was a critical need for the association to have its own home in an effort to facilitate proper training of its athletes at the required level in an effort to achieve better results internationally.
The discussion with Jones also centered around the acquisition of land to build/house a home for table tennis.
The parties also reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding drafted with the government with a view towards arriving at terms for the design, location and other aspects of the building including financing.
According to the release, Jones indicated that this was a pet project of his since he felt facilities were critical to providing access to sportsmen and women and improving mass participation in sports thereby improving the fortunes of Guyana’s sportsmen and women.
The committee also updated Jones on an Olympic Solidarity plan for the Development of a National Sports Structure (DNSS), linked to the decentralization of the sport and initiated through the Guyana Olympic Association.
Director Jones, the release stated, outlined his mandate for sports and indicated that he looked forward to working with the GTTA in the realisation of sporting success. The GTTA, the release stated, would be refining some elements of its programmes prior to implementation.
