Dear Editor,
I am feeling so sad at the treatment of members of our sport disciplines in Guyana; immediately my mind wanders to the great boxers that this country produced such as the likes of Lennox Beckles, Lennox Blackmore, Caesar Barrow, Patrick Ford, Michael Benjamin and many more, some already deceased.
I have not heard of anything tangible being done for these men who have given of their blood in the ring to keep our flag flying high, and of recent a few of our women have been doing battle in the ring from the home base as well as on the international stage. Recognition is what is needed for these athletes.
Take for example our own Clive Atwell, who fought for world championships in Mexico and Australia, got injured in the ring and was left alone to battle his canoe for survival; one wonders what would become of Clive now that his surgery was successful in the USA.
A similar state of affairs exists with our footballers and cricketers and so many other athletes that must have a negative effect on the nation of sport as a whole. No small wonder that many are migrating to greener pastures to show off their wares.
One must be reminded that when these athletes enter the arena of their specialized area of performance they do so not only for individual glory, but also to make our country known on the world stage.
I trust the pulverization of our athletes will come to an end some day and someone would become the visionary and put on a sports awards festival for our men and women past and present who have done yeoman service for this nation of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Ivan John
