“2016 was a positive year” ― Urges a more “Optimistic Approach”― Asst Director of Sport

By Romario Samaroo

Melissa Dow-Richardson has only taken up the role of Assistant Director of Sport in the last quarter of 2016 but has immediately thrown her hat in the ring, with expert support to Director of Sport Christopher Jones as well as being an advent stakeholder in sport. It is no surprise that Dow-Richardson has quite simply but confidently described the year 2016 for sport in general as “a positive year.”

The well-spoken Assistant Director of Sport made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport at the National Sports Commission (NSC) headquarters, Homestretch Avenue.
When asked about the year gone, Dow-Richardson said “Well I have to say it was a very positive year for sports in Guyana and we have been able to do a lot of important things.”
Explaining some of the highpoints and achievements the NSC is proud for, she pointed out that “a lot of our facilities have been upgraded such as the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the National Gymnasium, both pools at the National Aquatic Center as well as the pool at Colgrain House.”
Not to mention that there are maintenance work at the National Synthetic Track located at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, which contributes to her safely stating that “our facilitating aspect for sports is both improved and secured.”
Dow-Richardson also indicated that another moment in 2016 that the NSC was proud of was the successful hosting of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG).
“The other highpoint I would like to mention is the hosting of the Inter-Guiana Games and the fact that we successfully hosted that games, we forded seven teams, associations were involved, government fully supported, the director fully supported I think very tall for Guyana in ensuring we present a strong and solid sporting body and I certainly believe that the IGG did that to a high level,” the Assistant Director of Sport stated.
While the year may have been positive, the Assistant Director of Sport is now looking to 2017 to have “a more optimistic approach to sport, the first call will be a change in rhetoric as to how sport is deemed and even perceived in Guyana. We must know that we have the national ability, the talent, the resources, the push, and the will, the drive to be successfully not only locally and regionally but as well as internationally. We are strong we are winning so we want people to rally around the various associations they are involved in and seek to resolve any conflicts that may be existing.”