Sports development in Guyana has taken another giant leap, this was made evident with the opening of the resource center in the compound of the National Squash Center on Woolford Avenue. The two-storied building houses a library, IT room and conference room. It is envisaged that the facility will be used for sport education as information on a range of sports are available at the facility, and can be used for seminars and workshops for those in the sport fraternity.
“When we think about sports in Guyana, we often think about what we do on the field and pay very little on the educational side of sports…there is an educational component of sports and we want people to understand that in the modern world our athletes will not be doing well, and therefore we took a very conscious decision that if we’re going to develop sports we have to break away from the traditional practice and start training people in the right way,” the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony told the gathering.
He stressed that some training was available however the quality was questionable and in other instances the programmes were not certified in this regard through the center certified training sessions will also be made available.
While stressing the importance of having such an institution, Minister Anthony explained that many marvel at the achievements of Jamaica where a sports institution exists.
With that in mind, the Minister posited that Guyana needs to make a deliberate step and that is to start establishing an institution to formalise training, and opening of the resource center is the first step.
Further, Minister Anthony said that the Ministry is looking at developing a coaching council at the National Sports Commission. Through that council, on a yearly basis, persons will be required to apply to the council to become certified, and those who do not have the necessary training would have the opportunity to do so at the centre.
He disclosed that the Ministry will also be providing sports lectures for persons to be accredited.
With regards to addressing doping, Minister Anthony pointed out that more educational and awareness sessions are needed for athletes. As such, the Ministry will be hiring an anti-doping officer who will be tasked with providing information on anti-doping.
Director of Sports, Neil Kumar in his presentation stated that while the Government has provided the much needed infrastructure for sports development, investment in the country’s human resources is very important.“A new era has begun, the stage has been set for Guyana’s athletes, coaches and officials,” he said.
Kumar noted that the development of Guyana’s first Sports Resource Centre is a vision of Minister Anthony, aimed at advancing to the highest, the country’s sport’s men and women.
Following the opening ceremony, the very first lecture was held by Professor Clem Seecharan who presented a discourse on the start of West Indian cricket.
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Minister Anthony emphasized need for sports education at commissioning of resource center