Dear Editor,
As an overseas based athlete, I read the Stabroek News every day, and whenever an article comes up concerning track and field and the upcoming Olympic Games, I keep wondering who are athletes that would be representing Guyana at the games. I think the list of athletes should be presented to the public.
Yours faithfully,
Dianne Munroe
Quickdimun, are you serious? … you HAVE been reading the papers everyday as in EVERYDAY. This newspaper has repeatedly published such info. FYI, the selected are Marian Burnett, Adam Harris and Aliann Pompey – Athletics. Niall Roberts – Swimming. I would understand if you had said ‘the list of officials’ because the newspaper may not space for that list.
That letter was only sent because it seems to me that the olympic committe isnt certain who will be representing Guyana in track and field. It is also strange that at the last minute that we hear about Adam Harris. I attend University in the United States and I have never heard about Adam Harris.
However, I was aware that Marian Burnett and Aliann Pompey would be representing Guyana at the up coming games.
I agree with quickdimun – If people are representing Guyana regardless of qulifiying times – there should be a Guyana Olympic Trials where everyone gets known to each other especially when representing our country – otherwise it looks like a cloak and dagger affair
I Agree with this that there should be a trails. Guyana does not have a system in place so they have to do whatever they must everytime the olympics comes around. when a proper system is put in place and Guyana get an all weather track things will look up in a better light. Until that time, prepare for more caos. the Guyana Olympic way.
I don’t care how you slice this cake, but on T.V. we’ll see more officials than athletes marching under the Guyana flag at the opening sermon. In Guyana, things like the Olympics is an official’s perks and not necessary an athlete’s affair.
The atheletes are so few because not many of them make the qualifying times
Guyana does not necessarily need a national trials. There aren’t enough to contest for positions like in other countries. The reality too is: we don’t have the facilities and basis to accomodate for the exigencies of a selectrion process that such trials are suppose to present.
Also, Guyanaes athletes struggle on their own to make qualiffications, and when they do, they shouldn’t have to contest some trials to get on the team. Once you have the standard you should go. In essence, let’s say for 2012, Dianne Munroe qulaifies for the 100m and/or 200m, then I don’t see any other athlete competing for her positions. And, remember you can send as much as THREE PER EVENT, but I still dont see 3 other athletes getting that good for 2012 to knock her out. It just being realistic
The problem is track & field is not well promoted in Guyana. It should be encouraged and developed nationwide.
I don’t know whats happening now, but in my time track and Field ended at intercounty, and most parents favorite words were ” I send yuh to school fuh learn, not run !!!
The reason for this is that Guyana does not have the proper training faciity for these athletes to excel. No speed track and program for success ot the athetes. Cricket is the biggest sports in Guyana and resource and pored into that rather than athletics. when things change guyanese athletes will do very good. We have athletes with speed and with the right system. Guyana will one day get an olympic gold or silver medal. Only time will tell.
Guyana has always been a country with very good track and field athletes but there are no all weather speed track for the to train. the one’s who have gotten a chance to leave for another country has taken that opportunity. There has never been any structure with the Guyana Olympic Association. They do not think in the best interest of the Athletes. There needs to be a new model for success and every time the olympics comes around there is always a problem. Lest face it cricket and soccer are the biggest sporting events in Guyana. Track and Field has always taken a back seat due to this the athletes will continue to suffer. Guyana shoud take a page from the Island like Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados just to name a few. These Islands have a system and they send athletes to the Olympics every four years who compete for medials. when Guyana institute a system to where all athletes domestic and international are allowed run and compete for their country or parents country. Guyana will then begin their way and hopefully we all can be proud to know that one of our country man or women has won a gold or silver medal. Why this has not happen as yet, this is the question many individuals like myself and other would like to know.
I would like to address this Blog to the Minister fo Sports Dr.Anthony. When will Guyana get an all weather speed track and facility to where Guyana can send a proper olympic team every four years. Guyana has the Athletes with speed and the proper training they will make guyana proud. I know cricket is the country biggest sport but track and field and athletics are apart of our country’s pass time. Guyana deserve this. It will bring some positive publicity to the nation of many waters. I would like to see a system put in place where the athletes are given a chancce to succeed with proper training. the current order of business should be abandon and a new system needs to be in place for when the next Olympics comes aroound. There needs to be someone with no ties to anyone there in Guyana who will come in and make his or her mark and put his or her alhletic experience to the successs of the Athletic of Guyana. A Change from the old guard is needed. This change will be for the success of Guyana on an Olympic stage and other events which are held before all olympics. The Guyanese people needs something like this so the can be proud of their country men and women.
Jamaica, Bahamas,Trinidad are the big names atletics countries in the caribbean and all their oversease based atletes had to return home for theiir respective olympic trials , What about guyana.
Batooba, if you are referring to ‘return home’ as meaning to go back to your country of representation for a trials, you’d recognize that the scenario in Guyana is largely different when compared to those states. I agree there should be trials for the Guyana team, but where and for what reasons at this present time. These points can read into the catch 22. #1… the facilities provide an element of consistency, in that what the overseas-based train and compete regulary on is also avavilable at home. #2… those nations are lights years ahead of guyana in putting out numbers. They normally have several instances where more than the required athletes have Olympic qualifications, so there is a need for a selection process as the trials. #3… there’s such malady with the respective administration in Guyana that a trials would just be a farce. And, that is where we can list the continuing numbers right up infinity.
I will like 2 know why one of the athletes could not be the flagbarer. I know that there are athletes in guyana that are doing well at carifta games the are the ones that the system could give scholarships aftre they leaves high school. what i will like 2 emphese is from primary to secoundary level the must have good coaches. I am very happy to see that barnette and poppey reach the olympic nuff nuff big up 2 the world
I realy think that guyana have some good runners .but they dont have any support from the government so they cannot go futher after the school national every thing is over with the runners until the next year, so that is one of my concern which i think is realy bad for the guyanese .so come on government lets us start doing things so that our flag will fly high and all guyanese will be prouder not only for the cricket or soccer but all other sports.