In excess of 1500 participants are set to be a part of the historic Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/National Sports Commission (NSC) annual ‘Teach Them Young’ swim camp which commenced yesterday at the National Aquatic Centre.
The life skill programme which started decades ago, will see the largest ever number of participants and, given some late entries, that number could balloon to1700 for all three zones –Region Four, Berbice, and Linden.
Activities in the latter two zones will commence today. In years past, the overall attendance at the programme would number a little over 300-400.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., who delivered the keynote address during the launch yesterday told those in attendance that the camp is a “carefully designed one” so the attendees can benefit.
Ramson Jr., challenged parents to take a deeper interest in the lives of their children stating, “You have got to take that interest in your kids too. Encourage them to pay attention to the coaching and the lessons that they are learning.”
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, indicated there was detailed planning to execute such a project as over 45 coaches will overlook and train the athletes, while parents are encouraged to visit the sessions.
“It is historic because the level of organization and the way we have continued to listen to associations is a microcosm of how the Government of Guyana is working towards developing sport in Guyana. Never before in swimming or any other programme run by our ministry, this amount of participants”, Ninvalle added.
Commissioner of the National Sports Commission, Cristy Campbell, said the significant increase is a testimony to the consistency and investment the NSC is making in all sports.
President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Dwayne Scott, disclosed that the camp is geared towards furnishing the youths with the fundamentals of the sport, with the hope of them also going on to join clubs and go on to represent Guyana in the future.
For this camp, sessions in Region Four will be held at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal and the Colgrain Pool on Camp Street from yesterday to August 12.
Sessions in Berbice will be held at the Albion Estate pool from today to August 10 and in Linden at the Watooka pool from today to August 5.
The camp caters to youths between ages nine and 18, with sessions being held from 09:00h to noon daily.
