Elite Training Programme can start as early as this month – Ramson Jr

The highly touted Elite Training Programme for track and field athletes in Guyana could start as early as this month, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has disclosed.
The Sport Minister made the revelation during his speech at the opening of the National Secondary School Championships on Wednesday at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Ramson Jr announced, “Now we’ve made a big investment coming out from last year into this year, and it will last over the next three years, which is on the Elite Training Programme for Athletics. Over the next three years, starting this, in fact, starting this month or next month, you will now have exposure to the training programmes that are comparable to the best in the world.”
“We’ve spent a lot of money to bring in those elite coaches to upskill our coaches here but also to upskill you. Get your training programme now to the best level.”
The Sport Minister went on to discuss the importance of such high-level training.
“You’re not going to be able to succeed at the international level, where you are gaining medals at the Olympics or World Championships, unless you are deploying and employing the international techniques that are now at the highest scientific level and then also managing your programme and managing the analytics that come from assessing your programme. Measuring it on that level where you are now doing it so that you are comparable with the elite programmes in the world,” the Minister warned.

He further opined, “We have the talent; we have the raw talent; we always did, but that is not enough.” You have to have the right training programme.”
During his speech, Ramson Jr also emphasised the importance of not just training but elite training that the programme will offer local athletes who are desirous of reaching new heights.
The sport Minister cautioned, “What is important too is that the training you undertake, you don’t always have to love, but you have to do it. Even Usain Bolt would tell you that he hated to train, but he still did it; he did it every single day because he wanted to be the best and he wanted to win.”
“So, what I will tell you is, even if you are talented, even if you are the best in your school or the best in your district, you will not become the best in the world unless you train every single day, even on the days when you hate it,” he added.