First-vice president of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA), Cristy Campbell, isn’t at all worried about the short-term impact of the ongoing global pandemic on the sport locally.
Campbell, during a brief interview with Stabroek Sports, stated that tennis will surely be around after the pandemic is wrestled under control and that surviving its wrath is the ultimate focus at the moment.
“Tennis isn’t going anywhere. It has been around from time immemorial to all of us and will be after. Survival is of utmost importance during these crucial times,” she said.
The vice-president, who is also one of the nation’s top athletes, also revealed that she is quite aware of the dire situation globally.
However, she was buoyed by the efforts of her close friends and family who are adhering to precautionary guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health to combat the virus.
“I hope and pray that this plague is thoroughly eradicated soonest; the infection and mortality rates are utterly distressing,” she lamented.
Like most major sporting organisation, Campbell explained that the operations at the tennis body has been severely affected as several meetings and tournaments had to be put on pause.
“Not only tennis, but every sport is at a cessation. I’m actually happy all facilities are closed until this virus is under control and I’m sure all right-thinking players would also agree with me.
“A couple of tournaments which were scheduled for the first half [of the year] obviously had to be pushed back to dates none of us can predict right now. Executive meetings and everything pertaining to tennis have all been rightfully grounded,” the tennis executive pointed out.
Asked about the damning foreseeable future after the pandemic and how it will weigh on rallying leverage for sponsorship from corporate Guyana, Campbell responded; “For now, I cannot personally vouch for sponsorship commitment further in the year. This pandemic has crippled economies worldwide and Guyana isn’t excluded. Those things are least on my mind right now; Everything pales in comparison to this virus which continues to cause great grief.”
