By Donald Duff
A business-like approach is the modus operandi of running a successful cycling federation.
That’s the opinion of former national cycling champion and Olympian Neville Hunte.
To run an organization effectively, whether it’s a sports federation or any other type, it’s important to adopt a business-like approach, said Hunte recently in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports.
This, he said, includes having a clear business plan, rules, commitment, responsibility, and a focus on the organization’s objectives rather than personal interests.
“If you have an organization you have to run it like a business. You must have a business plan, with rules and everything and commitment, responsibility, not your own personal self-interest.
“You’ve got to have disciplined people, and they’ve got to be responsible and dedicated. It sounds simple but it ss going to be hard work to do that,” he added.
Hunte advocates that the current cycling federation seek to creation a well-structured and disciplined organization with a clear hierarchy, roles and responsibilities, and a commitment to the organization’s goals.
He also suggests the development of a comprehensive business plan that outlines the organization’s mission, goals, strategies, and financial projections which will serve as a roadmap for the organization’s growth and development.
“You can’t be helter skelter, come from here or representing only one guy. It’s got be a body just like government. It’s similar, and you must have several people who have some kind of knowledge. You don’t have to have the inner knowledge of a bicycle rider.
“You’ve also got to acquire finance. You can’t work without funds, you’ve got to work with the government,” he said.
According to Hunte, the organization must try to secure funding through sponsorships, grants and partnerships as it was important to have a steady source of income to support the organization’s activities.
He suggested collaboration with the government to gain support and resources including seeking assistance for facilities, equipment, and infrastructure.
Hunte also spoke of the exorbitant cost of cycle equipment.
“Who in Guyana can afford a bicycle for US$10,000,?” he asked.
“You’re going to have to get somebody to sponsor that. That is where the UCI (International Cycling Union) comes in but then again, you have to have a federation that can write letters to convince people outside that we have people who have talent and we want to get that talent going. We want to develop that talent,” he said.
Hunte feels that the government, together with the national cycling federation, should invest in facilities and equipment that meet international standards such as building a velodrome to promote track cycling, which can be an essential asset for training and competitions.
Hunte feels that the lack of a velodrome here puts the local cyclists at a disadvantage.
“All our Olympic cyclists raced track when they represented Guyana at the Olympic Games. We still didn’t have a velodrome then.
That was a disadvantage for us who went there said,” he declared.
Of the velodrome he said that there are different types.
“There are different levels of velodromes. The international standard one where they do all the records and such like depending on the money that you have.”
Hunte however, feels that having a velodrome must be in keeping with the growth of the sport.
“You can have the most technologically advanced velodrome. If we don’t have cyclists why are we getting one of those technologically advanced facilities.
Who will you be timing? If all the cyclists are riding on the road then now you have a problem of transitioning them back to track cycling,” he argued, adding that there are only two levels of cycling in Guyana, track and road.
Hunte is suggesting that the local federation focus on identifying and nurturing talent in the country which may involve creating development programmes and scouting for potential athletes.
The local federation should also seek out sponsors who can support the sport by providing equipment or financial assistance to make cycling more accessible to a wider range of people.
He was critical of the amount of cyclists that participate in events pointing out that a lot of them are older cyclists.
“We don’t have enough different age groups, only have about 12 cyclists and that is not enough. That’s not a lot of interest,” he said adding that there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm for the sport.
“I don’t know how the enthusiasm can be gotten back,” he said but suggested that the local federation organize events and activities to promote the sport. They can also engage with the schools and communities to create interest in the sport at a young age.
Hunte noted that Guyana recently got a wild card to participate at the UCI world championships and said that if the goal is to send cyclists to the Olympics, the local federation must prioritize high-level training and competition experiences to prepare them for international competitions.
“You don’t want to go to the Olympics or any other big meet just to represent, he said.”
“You’re going there because you want to win a medal for your country. That’s your main objective,” he added.
The federation, in striving to win medals at international competitions must also instill a winning mentality among its cyclists.
Conway suggested that the cycling federation has got to get more proactive.
“Why can’t we liaise with our sister Caricom countries and have an arrangement where our cyclists train at their velodromes,?” he questioned.
He suggests that the local federation actively engage with other organizations and federations to further the development of cycling in Guyana.
The two Hunte and Conway, said that building and running a successful cycling organization in Guyana requires a strategic and business-like approach, collaboration, planning, infrastructure development, and talent cultivation.
