Prime Minister Mark Phillips has issued a call for local sports to engage technology in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, Phillips said that the world is moving into a technological era which has expanded rapidly as a result of the pandemic forcing less and less social interactions.
“Any embracing of technology I would encourage, we are doing it with education, we have blended learning now where it is like classroom to some extent but we have more virtual meetings and learnings, you know utilizing whatever technology,” Phillips stated.
He reasoned that the Indian Premier League (IPL) utilized that medium and hosted a successful event over an extended period. As such he believes the same can be applied.
“if you followed the IPL recently, if you look at one of the matches you will see how they embrace technology and we had a successful IPL and I am saying we can do the same thing here in Guyana whatever is the technology, embrace it, embrace the measures that will protect us against Covid-19 but we still have the sporting activities,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted the importance of having social and sporting activities reintegrated into society after an absence of nearly nine months.
He explained, “It’s very important [to reengage sports] because you can’t have people in a lockdown situation all the time, people are accustomed to going to work, we had to strike a balance.”
Phillips related, “we moved from total lockdown, partial lockdown to the point where we are focusing on people adhering to the measures but then be allowed to get involved in their economical and recreational and social activities, what is important is following the measures, we have to strike a balance, live with Covid-19 because we don’t have any control as to when Covid-19 will end, you heard about vaccines, that is a good prospect and hopefully soon we can have vaccines to vaccinate everyone in the world but in the meantime we have to live by adhering to the measures and strike a balance.”
As the head of the National Covid-19 task force, Phillips said that once organisers can satisfy the necessary protocols, his unit will decide if the activity can happen.
“As you know we have a set of protocols we outlined that must be in place if you are going to host any activities, if you are going to have outdoor activities we have a set of protocols for that likewise if you have a sporting activity there are a set of protocols for that. What we are interested in is you satisfying us that you could have in place the protocols and once you satisfy us we will sign off approval for your tournament,” he expressed.
Phillips noted, “For example cricket here, the important thing …is that yes the players wouldn’t wear a mask … but everybody else associated will have to wear a mask, social distancing, sanitization, you have to have sinks to wash your hands and so and whatever is the facility you observe the measures in keeping with occupancy.”
The Prime Minister noted all the measures are available online while encouraging persons to apply for permission which would be followed by a discussion on the prospect.
