The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has officially announced the formation of the long-awaited Athletes Commission.
This was disclosed by a formal release from the GOA which informed that the commission comprises 15 athletes that have represented Guyana at multi-sport games, regional tournaments, and/or participated at national championships within the last eight years.
The mission statement of the commission is to ensure that the viewpoints of the athletes are central to the decisions of the GOA, as well as serve as an integral link between the competitors and the association. They are also mandated to support and lobby for increased participation of Guyanese athletes through various programmes inclusive of the Olympic Solidarity.
“Under the soon-to-be-adopted updated Constitution of the GOA, a representative of the Athletes Commission sits on the Executive Committee, two (2) Representatives are included among the Members of the Association and attend Council Meetings and the Commission is entitled to one (1) vote for the election of Officers of the Association”, the release stated.
The constitution of the athletes’ commission was drafted by the steering committee which was appointed in 2020, and consists of Tiffany Solomon, Rondel McArthur, and Joshua Griffith.
According to the release, affiliated national federations in April, were invited to serve on the body, with six federations eventually responding, and nominating 12 athletes to join the previously established steering committee.
The correspondence further disclosed that a meeting was convened on May 16 to select the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the body, with Chelsea Edghill, and Griffith being voted in as the former and latter respectively, after nine of the 15 nominees attended the seminar.
“The athletes expressed their joy at the formation of the Athletes’ Commission; stating that it is long overdue and can only augur well for Guyana’s athletes. They stated that the athletes go to Games and know what the challenges are; adding that this will be an opportunity for the voices of the athletes to be heard. They noted that if they work together, collectively, across all of the sports disciplines, changes can be made from the athletes’ perspective,” the correspondence stated.
Aliann Pompey OLY (post-nominal letters granted by the World Olympians Association (WOA) to athletes who have participated in the Olympic Games), four-time Olympian and President of the Panam Sports Athlete Commission said, “I know first-hand the effort and hard work that went into making this day happen. It’s a critical step for athletes in Guyana; the implications cannot be overstated. Thanks to the GOA for staying with this process to the end. Congratulations to Chelsea, the Commission Chair.”
