Dear Editor,
The Olympic Games is the world’s greatest sports event which occurs every four years. Host countries and venues are selected in excess of a decade before the event. This gives athletes, organizers, sponsors, fans and all participants enough time to prepare. All of this shows the magnitude of the Games which is billed as the greatest show on earth. Disappointingly, Guyana is unsupportive and unenthusiastic about this opportunity to be a part of the rest of the world and to display its ability. There was little publicity given to our athletes during these games via the media and little or none just prior to or during an event. The importance of our citizenry participating in every athletic accomplishment of our athletes who earn their places in representing the nation cannot be over emphasized, as this is a means of encouragement and satisfaction for these athletes and for the benefit of the country.
Yet again we see Guyanese talent in our representatives, Emanuel Archibald, Aleka Persaud, Jasmine Abrams, Aliyah Abrams, Keevin Allicock, Andrew Fowler and Chelsea Edghill. We also have a budding star, Alpha Harrison, who resides in the United States of America and achieved the title of the fastest under-15 sprinter in the world. He is only ten years old and always runs as a representative of Guyana.
The lack of encouragement and effort by the government and private sector in assisting our athletes and promoting sport as an integral part of the development of these talented athletes and even of the Guyanese spectators, is apathetic, brainless and disdainful. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson, notably was not as effusive about Archibald as he was about Persaud, although the former went to a higher stage in the Games than Persaud. Let us err on the side of wisdom and tolerance and say that this was unintentional. However, we all need to be cognizant of the festering sore of racial disharmony which frequently gets worse and the lofty position of Minister should be used to exercise more care. This position does not give us the liberty to air our views recklessly or insensitively.
People from other countries including our Caricom family are effusive about their folks’ participation in the Olympics and their excitement is palpable. On the contrary, pre and post Archibald’s outstanding run in the preliminaries, there was no verbal or other support from the Guyanese government, business leaders, civic groups, our sports journalists nor media houses. Adding my voice to the controversy surrounding these Games, I am not in favour of them being held due to them being a likely ‘spreader ‘ of COVID-19 and its variants. However, as it is a fait accompli, I believe that our athletes should be given our fervent support.
Why are our so-called leaders exhibiting this malaise and indifference which serves to retard our growth and engender disrespect from others? When are they going to show wisdom, empathy and a cultured approach to life? When are we going to emulate our Caricom member Jamaica which the entire world knows of due to their fame at the present and previous Olympic Games along with Bob Marley’s stardom and Marcus Garvey’s activism? When will our governments and the private sector regard sports and human development as a priority and a way of life for our citizens?
They can start by spending more money for the best personnel, training facilities and the nourishment and well-being of our athletes. They can show their support by their words and letters directed to these athletic stars and by using them as a means to inspire young people. Their accomplishments must be constantly displayed via the media and even billboards. As stated above, our so-called leaders show little wisdom and patriotism while effecting change in our Dear Land of Guyana.
Faithfully,
Conrad Barrow
