In recent years, the Government of Guyana has been spearheading a campaign to refurbish, update and maintain the existing sporting infrastructure of our country. This countrywide campaign has included the refurbishing of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the resurfacing of the Cycling Track at the National Park, the resurfacing of the Motor Racing Track at Timehri and many other similar facilities around the country.
However, our focus has not been solely on existing facilities. We have also been working on establishing new sporting facilities, which, in many cases, have been (or will be) the first of their kind in Guyana.
Today, thanks to President Bharat Jagdeo, we can show to the world that we have a multi- purpose Stadium, the Guyana National Stadium at Providence. The Providence Stadium is now regarded as one of the best cricket stadia in the Caribbean. However, cricket is not the only sports discipline that benefit from this facility. Footballers also enjoy the same facility for International encounters. This Stadium also hosts International Boxing and Rugby tournaments, as well as Track and Field, Hockey, Cultural, Religious and Social events.
Phase One of the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora is nearing completion. The initiation of Phase Two, which includes the building of a synthetic track by the German company, Rugupol, is imminent. The National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, Turkeyen, the first-ever Olympic Size International Swimming Pool is today a reality in Guyana. President Bharrat Jagdeo kept his promise, and today, Guyanese can boast about our state of the Art International Swimming Pool. This marks yet another great change in the Sport of Swimming that has been overseen by the PPP/C Government. I remember the first of these changes well.
Swimming was dormant for many years, since the closing of Luckhoo Pool. With the return of democracy in 1992, our swimming fraternity received a new breath of life as they were given an opportunity to swim in several pools that were previously reserved for the elites. The Colgrain Pool and the Castellani Pool were opened up to the Swimming Clubs, hence, the resuscitation of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA).
Our swimmers were restricted to swimming in the rivers, creeks, trenches, while the elites were given access to the few swimming pools available. Clubs and National Swimming Associations received springs in their arms and legs and swimming was again in the repertoire of our local land of many waters.
Today, Guyanese swimmers are winning Gold Medals at the Goodwill Games and the Inter- Guiana Games.
Further, with those limited facilities, we participated in the Junior Carifta Games, and World Games. For the first time we also had one Swimmer at the last Olympic Games.
This new State-of-the-Art Swimming Pool is now open to our top swimmers. Our Coaches, Clubs and the swimming fraternity are moving forward to make the fullest use of this facility to prepare for the challenges at International meetings. Unfortunately, neither our colonial masters, nor the previous political administrations recognized our Sportsmen and Sportswomen.
We were never given a world-class facility for any sport discipline. The effort to build this pool was indeed a genuine national effort, led by His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, who made the necessary funds available during a period when the world was facing financial crisis.
Synergies between the Office of the President, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports are what made this achievement possible. The Guyana Swimming Association must now ensure that they prove themselves equal to the challenges ahead. They must now produce short-term, medium-term and long-term developmental programmes so that we can have systems in place for our swimmers to achieve greatness and bring glory to our great nation.
Our sport administrators must work together for us to make maximum use of the various facilities. Today, our young athletes must be encouraged to prepare themselves for winning gold at international events.
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