While many sports disciplines around the world have returned to competitive play a year into the pandemic, some sports associations/federations here are yet to be given the green light or even receive timely responses for the hosting of their events.
The latter has been a major cause of concern and several members of sporting associations have complained that the National COVID-19 Task Force has been slothful and untimely in responding to letters seeking permission to host sporting events.
In November, it was published in the Official Gazzette that sports events were permitted to return with a caveat of getting approval from the Ministry of Health.
“Sporting events are permitted subject to the approval of the Minister of Health and compliance with any guidelines that the Ministry of Health may issue and every person or organiser hosting an approved sporting event shall be responsible for ensuring that the measures under this Notice as well as any guidelines that the Ministry of Health may issue are complied with.”
The news was expected to bring much needed satisfaction to sportsmen and women who would have been restricted from playing their respective sports for several months.
While sports like football, cricket, track and field and cycling etc. have returned minus fans, many other disciplines cannot even get a timely response from the Task Force.
Several association heads who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of a backlash, said that they get the ‘royal run around’ from the Task Force.
Several calls go unanswered or emails and letters are not responded to on a timely basis.
Calls for a comment to the Head of the Task Force, the former Minister of Sport and current Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony went unanswered yesterday.
While several territories within the Region have found ways to make successful returns to sport, Guyana is still struggling in that regard because of a lack of competence.
Other associations who have received the green light to restart their activities have also complained that before hosting a competition, they have to seek the permission of the Task Force on every occasion.
In my opinion, instead of asking individual associations/federations to come up with plans every time a competition is to be hosted, it is better for templates to be developed by the relevant authorities and ask the bodies to conform to them.
It is imperative that the successful return to the hosting of sports activities be led by those in authority as opposed to them acting as a regulatory body with sporting associations left to develop plans and seek their own expert advice. Bottom line, the National COVID-19 Task Force should be applauded for most of the work done since being assembled. However, the members must also accept blame when they drop the ball.
