Sending a large, podium worthy team to CAC 2021 in Barbados and bidding to host the event in 2023 are some of the goals of the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation Inc. next year.
So said President of the body, Keavon Bess as part of his year in review interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday.
Bess noted that despite the endless adversities this year, the sport got off to a great start with the Novices Championship in Linden in February and ended on a positive note with the virtual ‘Resilience’ competition two weeks ago at the National Cultural Centre.
The two shows sandwiched the forced cancellation of its other statutory calendar events.
Due to the pandemic, plans had to be shelved for the hosting of the Intermediate Championships in Berbice which was scheduled for April and the flagship Senior Championships which would have been hosted in the city in July.
Said Bess “Just as good as the year started, it ended well for bodybuilding. Pre-pandemic we were off to a wonderful start with the ‘Novices’ in Linden and the reception in the Mining Town was welcoming, everyone would agree it was a success and Resilience was one of the best managed and run competitions we ever had in Guyana.”
Looking ahead, the Attorney-at-Law like every person on the globe, said that he is hoping that every situation can return to a semblance of normalcy in 2021 in order for the federation to stage its full slate of events.
“We are hoping that 2021 brings a huge relief from COVID where we will be able to host our shows with a live audience. We would want to host Novices again Linden in March or April, the Intermediate in May or June in Berbice and Seniors in July or August depending on when CAC is going to be held in Barbados.”
On the topic of CAC, the flagship Regional bodybuilding event, Bess noted that since Barbados is relatively nearby, the federation will aim to secure the support of the private sector and the government to blanket the cost to send an army of 10 or more competent athletes to represent the Golden Arrowhead.
“It is grand opportunity for the federation to send a solid team unlike the normal teams of four to five athletes. We want to send the best 10 or so male and females to represent Guyana at CAC 2021 who we feel will medal at the event.”
Bess added that the federation also intends to lobby the Ministry of Sport to aid in the bidding process of the event which could potentially return to the 592 in three years.
Fund raising activities like Bar-B-Ques are also on the cards for 2021.
