Dear Editor,
The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) acquired a Fully Automatic Timing System (FATS) for the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) last August and to date the AAG cannot make proper use of the equipment. The FAT system is necessary for times to be International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) ratified. In addition, the FATS which has a digital line scan camera gives accurate photo finishes and captures 1000 frames per second.
The AAG attempted to operate the FAT System last September at the 2013 National Senior Championships but all efforts proved futile. It is clear that the technology was beyond the understanding of those in the association. Since then the equipment has been left untouched.
There was a series of developmental meets earlier this year and the opening of the Leonora synthetic track in April. The FAT system was not utilized.
Yet another opportunity presented itself in the form of the AAG’s National Senior Championships for the equipment to be used and the AAG failed to exploit the technology available. Last weekend’s event was not short of the usual controversy over errors being made by both judges and time-keepers.
Another slap in the face at last weekend’s meet was that there was not any medical/first-aid team present to render assistance. Officials with seemingly less than pedestrian knowledge of first-aid gave poor advice to athletes who were injured and lying on the track in pain. This reflects poorly on the AAG members responsible for planning the event and shows total disregard for the welfare of athletes and utter disrespect for the athletic fraternity.
First the cry was lack of resources. Now we have a synthetic track and the necessary equipment. What shall the new cry be? Lack of technical expertise? Import a specialist and hold seminars for locals to benefit from skill-transfer! How much longer must athletes be inadvertently cheated because of human error? How much longer must athletes accept the fictitious hand times given? How much longer must the athletes suffer at the hands of the AAG’s procrastination? Will this trend continue throughout 2015? Will athletes be given the opportunity to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Guyana? Will Guyana be able to host regional or international competitions any time soon? How much longer must this mediocre status quo of athletics in Guyana be maintained?
It is time the standard of athletics be raised. It is time for the AAG to stop treating athletics like a joke. It is time for the members of the AAG to pull their socks up and begin to work. More importantly, it is time the new administration zoomed in on the operations of sports in Guyana. I’m kindly asking that the Junior Minister of Education with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms Nicolette Henry, and the Director of Sport, Mr Christopher Jones, urgently intervene in the matter outlined above.
Yours faithfully,
Elton Bollers
