The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport presented a “small appreciation of the beginning of support” yesterday to the tune of $US1000 each to the athletes who have clinched Olympic berths.
So far, swimmers, Andrew Fowler and Jamila Sanmoogan, boxer, Keevin Allicock, table tennis star, Chelsea Edghill and 400m athlete, Aliyah Abrams have qualified for the Games while differently abled cyclist, Walter Grant-Stuart will represent Guyana at the Para Olympic Games. The Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan and the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5.
All but the swimmers were able to attend the event at the Main Street ministry.
During the handing over ceremony, the subject minister, Charles Ramson Jr stated; “This is a small appreciation of the beginning of our support. I did not want them to leave without knowing that Guyana stands by them and the government is going to stand by them. This is the beginning and its not the end, this is only the beginning.”
Ramson Jr then disclosed that “Their airfares and accommodations are already taken care of so we are currently giving them each $US1000 to take with them for their own leisure and to assist them while they are there.”
The Minister added that the athletes have already made the nation proud and while the government is looking forward for medals, they are equally looking forward to the athletes being great examples and ambassadors for the 592. Quizzed on whether the government will assist the athletes in competing in meets and training stints ahead of the Games, Ramson Jr. answered in the affirmative.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle then added that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has received a detailed budget relating to Chelsea Edghill expenses from the table tennis body and suggested the other associations follow suit.
Ninvalle who is also the President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), stated that Allicock is scheduled to depart for Russia on June 30 for a three-week high calibre training stint before journeying to Japan.
Edghill is scheduled to depart on Sunday for training camps California and Portugal while Abrams stated that she has two meets lined up before the Games. Abrams who is based in the USA is looking to peak at the right time and has her sights sets on breaking the national record prior to Tokyo. (Emmerson Campbell)
