– big plans in store for Guyana’s athletes
Director of Sport, Christopher Jones credited the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) for pulling off the South American U-20 Championships, despite having such short notice, calling it a “tremendous success”.
With a mere two months to plan and put systems in place to ensure “smooth sailing”, Jones sought to highlight that the “logistics by the coordinating committee was on point, the entire activity was incident free and of course the accommodation, meals and so forth that were provided for the local and international athletes, were all complimentary. I think overall the games were successfully held and I want to commend not only the AAG but all other organisations that played a role in it to ensure the success of the games.”
Jones noted that since the launching of the National Sports Database in 2016, the AAG has submitted their information on their athletes, hence the NSC was able to monitor their progress in the buildup to the CARIFTA games. The National Sports Database monitors athletes’ performances and helps make it easier for associations to pick the best possible representatives when headed to a major competition.
After the success of the athletes at the CARIFTA games, Jones pointed out that it was through this system that the NSC awarded the top performers with scholarships.
The Director revealed that the NSC is looking to achieve another possible perk of athletes being in the database to receive preferential healthcare in Guyana.
“Another aspect that we are hoping to achieve; and we are still having a discussion with the Ministry of Public Health, is that we want those athletes who are in the database to receive what is called ‘preferential treatment’ at our local health facilities and whereas our local health facilities are unable to provide the necessary services to them, is that being in the database as an athlete, the Government will be responsible for their medical treatment abroad, that is the level that we want to take that to.”
He encouraged the various associations to submit their respective information as the current Administration has the best interest of the athletes at heart.
When asked by Guyana Times International Sports whether the NSC is willing to invest more to bring sporting events such as the SA U-20 Championships to Guyana, Jones indicated that the NSC has already submitted their first draft of the Budget for 2018, pointing to “100 per cent increases in some cases for funding that falls under grants” so that the Sports Commission can be able to provide more toward various sports associations. However this will not be possible if the associations do not submit their developmental plans for 2018.
He urged those associations to understand that “sport is a business” and if you do not invest, there will be no returns. This, he explained, is the basis for investment in sport. He pointed to the success of the AAG as an example.
Guyana created history when they took 25 medals at last weekend’s South American U-20 Championships, tripling their previous haul of just eight medals since the beginning of the meet in 1959.
