Dear Editor,
The ceremonies and games of the 29th Olympiad in Beijin
g, China, were brilliantly executed and so much could be learnt from the presentations of the pageantry and artistic segment.
Apart from some surprise victories of athlethes, other performances lived up to expectations and China will be a force to reckoned with at the London 2012 Games. $43B was not only invested for the Olympic Games and the opening up of China to the world, but also to show that resources had been and will be invested in their sports ambassadors. As for the marketing aspect of historical places during the games, I was amazed at the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, and China has now been added to my wish list to visit some time during my lifetime.
Advertising, which I have a passion for didn’t fail to impress, and the two magnificent advertisements during the games were the Coca Cola ad which featured the two teenagers with the background song When you’re smiling and the McDonalds ad., which featured the two Chinese kids sparring for a piece of McDonalds between the chopsticks. (This was to die for).
Sports enthusiasts like myself will all have Olympic moments and the one that really took my breath away was none other when American Lauryn Williams made a decision to pick up the dropped baton during the qualifying round of the final leg of the 4×100 relay and continued that race to the end. That was such a noble and wise decision that it will always be remembered, and I personally would apply that moment in a different aspect as I continue my daily journey.
Local sponsorship by the respective companies and WRHM, Channel 7 must be given credit for the television coverage and my one wish is that the 2012 coverage will be wider so the games can be seen throughout the ten regions of Guyana. There is definitely enough time for agreements and contracts to put in motion by the various television stations.
My heartfelt thank you to the Guyanese ambassadors who represented the Golden Arrowhead, and who gave us moments to treasure.
Should resources and sponsorship become available in the run-up to the 2012 games, it is my belief that we can be represented in other disciplines, but I would leave that to the Guyana Olympic Association. Potential Olympians for London 2012, begin your preparations now to assemble and compete with top-class competitors who have just set the bar very high in terms of speed. London is capable of bringing us a memorable Olympiad, although their budget will be less than that of China. Until then, let us brace ourselves for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada in 2010, which I expect to be of a very high standard.
The Maple leaf will indeed shine.
Yours faithfully,
Trevor Pemberton
