Development of sport a major priority – Minister Henry

… GTU President urges athletes to aim for Olympics

The 56th Ministry of Education, Guyana Teachers’ Union National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships was officially declared open at the National Stadium Providence on Tuesday morning by Minister within the Ministry of Education, with responsibility for sport who enlightened the gigantic crowd that sport a is major part priority for her administration.
In excess of 1500 participants from across the 15 districts of this great nation flocked to the National Stadium where the highly anticipated Track and Field aspect would commence after the conclusion of the March Past and presentations from Minister Henry and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) President, Mark Lyte.

During her speech, Minister Henry said that “the development of sport is a major priority” for her administration adding that she believes “Sport is an important tool for human development and that is why in May 2015 after coming into office the decision was made by the administration [A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change Coalition] to merge sports with education.”
While addressing the athletes, Minister Henry continued to expound on the ideology of sports being integral to the education system defining sport as “a universal language and powerful medium for social and economic change.” Saying that sport “can be used to educate others in ways nothing else can do,” and it is no surprise that “Sports is arguably the only forum that can bring people together for a common goal” as she gave the example of an international cricket match bringing together people from all walks of life, religion and race.
Similarly, Lyte highlighted the fact that we all need to work hard to achieve a common goal, in the same breath thanking the organizers, parents, teachers and sponsors for their commitment which has helped to produce stalwarts who represented us up to the Olympic level.
The GTU President acknowledged the position that we have not achieved much success at the highest level, nor have we produced Track Athletes to actually win at these contests but never the less, these possibilities are birthed right at events like this and it may very well be soon enough that we have an Olympic gold medalist emerging from the country.
Judging on the developments made, Lyte said that “it is important to embrace the changes that happened over the years,” noting the Olympic swimmers who benefitted from the move to the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, and the change for the first time for cycling to the inner circuit of the national park from the grass in previous years.
Based on the move to the National Park, Lyte pointed out that it was not only unfair for the cyclists to compete on grass locally and then compete internationally on tracks but it was cruel. Lyte then further predicted that it is his vision to one day see a championship where “teachers will have their own as well as junior and senior athletes,” recognizing that “It is time we remember that our young athletes are important to us.”
Meanwhile, Minister Henry indicated that the current administration has pumped funding into sports, highlighting a number of developments.
“We must not forget the important role sports play not only for social cohesion and national development but in education as well as a result allot of attention and finances has been put towards the enhancement of our sporting facilities, provision of sporting gears and equipment, training of athletes and inclusion of sports in schools curriculum.”
The Minister also made the comparison of sports and education by saying that it is a “Well known fact that there is a correlation between sound mind and healthy body and if we are to produce mentally alert, energetic children they must be involved in sports.”
Similarly the GTU President pressed this administration to place more emphasis to sports in schools urging that “it is time for it to be included in the school curriculum.”
Lyte, said to much applause of the audience, asked that we all work together for a common goal and remove these instances where we have athletes not getting to enhance their talents as we “have too many talented to allow to fall to waste side.”
Immediately following the speeches where Minister Henry declared the Championships open, it was District 10 (Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani), who are the defending champions, symbolically lit the Championship torch which is a long standing tradition of nationals.
With Swimming done and dusted, cycling awaiting a 40KM boys and 25KM girls road race to be completed, all attention is on Track and Field with the first day (Tuesday) having in excess of 70 event heats going off including Javelin, Discuss, Shot Put and 400m races across the various age ranges. The medal ceremony from events on Monday were also done at Providence.
The gates open from 09:00h daily and admission is free.