Images have surfaced on social media showing some members of the National Squad for the South American Juniors seemingly “sleeping” on the bleachers at the National Gymnasium at Mandela Avenue in Georgetown.
When Guyana Times Sport contacted Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, for a comment on Sunday afternoon, he described the issue as “being blown of proportion”. Jones explained thus: “Some of the boys opted to hang on the bleachers until it was time for them to sleep, as, indeed, sometimes the dorms become warm at nights”.
The view of the dorms after renovation in July 2016The image which surfaced on Sunday showing national athletes “camping” on the bleachers of the National Gymnasium
Manager of the National Squad for the South American Juniors, Cornell Rose, expressing an opinion that was similar to Jones’s, explained that the athletes were involved only in a casual activity.
“The guys lime out there. As boys, they want to hang out there when they want to relax. From the time they come from track in the afternoon, they would bring out their mattresses and lime (out there)”, Rose revealed.
In regard to whether the facility is well equipped and properly ventilated for the athletes, Rose stated, “It is kind of hot, because of so many people in there. So some of the boys would come out side, lay and gaff. It is not that they are sleeping there whole night, they do this by choice”.
He added, “The officials are always there watching. These are big people, it is not babies we are dealing. The guys would just do it to hang.”
The squad is encamped at the venue ahead of the Under-20 Championships to be held at the Leonora Track and Field Facility on June 3-4.
The telecommunications giant Digicel had handed over the renovated dorms of the Gymnasium to the Director of Sport in July 2016. That renovation, completed in time to facilitate the housing of students for the Digicel Schools Football Championships, had entailed repainting of the dorms and provision of 40 mattresses to the facility.
The 49-member squad is, from this Friday (June 2), expected to be guests of the Ramada Princess Hotel, the official Games Village for the event.
Approximately 359 athletes from 13 countries are expected to come to Guyana to participate in this event. (Akeem Greene)
