The local boxers preparing for the Olympic Qualifiers next month in Argentina can now train with less stress after their airfare and accommodation expenses were finally covered, albeit after the deadline.
Yesterday, Director of Sport Christopher Jones presented a cheque worth $2.5 million to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to offset the cost of the airfare for boxers and officials.
According to President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle, a day earlier, a pledge of US$5,000 was made by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to blanket the accommodation expenses to the event.
The deadline for territories confirming attendance to the March 26 to April 3 Qualifiers was February 24 and Ninvalle bemoaned the “created emergencies,” stressing that these situations “can be worked out long before time.”
He further reiterated that the granting of funds should be done in a structured and timely manner.
Nevertheless, Ninvalle stated that he was thankful for the show of support by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the GOA.
The GOA and the NSC also stood the expenses of the boxers and coaches on a three-month preparatory stint in Cuba, which commenced in December.
Ninvalle observed that the deadline to confirm attendance to the Qualifiers has passed by just a few days but assured that the lateness would not be an impediment to the boxers.
In a publication on Wednesday, Ninvalle disclosed that the NSC was unable to provide support since there was no budget allocation. However, Jones said yesterday that following a meeting, the board agreed that funds should be made available and the sum was expedited.
Four of the five boxers, Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas, currently have their hard hats on in Cuba preparing for the tough Qualifiers, the gateway to clinching a berth for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
The other boxer, Canada-based Taveena Kum, is covering her own airfare and accommodation expenses.
Coaches Francisco Roldan, Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake are the other members of the contingent.
The boxers and officials are scheduled to depart for Argentina on March 23.
Stabroek Sport will keep readers updated as events unfold.
