The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) launched its ‘Academy’ Programme at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday and Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. stated that ‘this can turn into something huge’ during his keynote address.
Dubbed ‘Guyana TT Kidz -With the Future in Mind’, Ramson Jr., stated that players within the academy will be given the training, the racquets, people, lights everything that is available for them to use. The minister explained that all he requires of the young athletes is that they turn up to their training sessions and focus on what they have to do and give their best.
During his address, Ramson Jr., stated, “We are doing it with this type of event because it is a new initiative that requires all of us to see that this can turn into something huge.”
He added, “When we take the time to do this, it is not that we are taking the time to drive all the attention to us, but sports is important for the country and you as young people. It also knits our country together in a strong way. Today’s event and all the other sports events related to the national sports academy could not have occurred without the strong leadership coming from the NSC etc., as well as the other sports associations.’
Ramson Jr., also related that the government has approved some $130M for the upgrading of the venue. It entails the implementation of air conditioning, refurbishing of the stands with bucket seats, changing of the front of the building which will see a glass front to modernize the iconic facility.
“We’re doing this, yes, we want you to be comfortable but we want to encourage families and spectators to come to this location when hosting national events, because for all of the core sports they have to have their national events which will lead into the elite training programme. Within this coming year we are going to transform this facility into a modern facility that you will be satisfied about,” the minister explained.
Meanwhile, Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle stated that he was enthused with the GTTA since the body has accomplished a lot in a short period of time. He said that table tennis is the fourth core sport that will commence its nursery as next week, the athletic nursery will run off.
“Through such a programme tennis already has one Olympian, through this programme we may be sitting among the next Olympians in the next decade,” Ninvalle reasoned.
The programme launched is in keeping with the strategic vision of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). It will enable the association to establish talent identification programmes across the regions, with academies being identified in regions 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10. The academy will target athletes between the ages of 6-16 in the nursery which will improve them skill wise in the game and all that it has to offer. The programme aims to have at least nine hours of athlete engagement every week.
