GHB confirms local Sport Tourism potential

Says Michelangelo Jacobus

Guyanese sport fans, enthusiasts young and old turned out in their numbers for six consecutive days last week at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) where they witnessed teams from seven different countries compete in the International Pan American Championships (IPAC).
At the time of penning this article I remember the feeling that swept over me as I stood at attention for the National Anthem of Guyana, I remember looking at the National men and women’s team and thinking that our country needs more events like these (IPAC).
Over the past year Guyana has played host to a few regional and international sporting events such as the South American U-20 Championships, Caribbean School Boys Boxing championships, West Indies versus Pakistan One Day International series, Regional Four-Day cricket, Caribbean Premier League and now the Pan American Hockey Championships. Additionally, in just over one week, middle distance athletes from almost every country in South America and a few from the Caribbean will converge in Georgetown for the second leg of the annual South American 10k road race.
The IPAC was a huge success and received positive feedback from the Pan Am officials and each participant. Kudos must be given to the GHB for pulling off an impressive tournament which went smoothly with everything running off like clockwork.
The recently concluded tournament injected some life into the capital city, the visitors from Argentina, Uruguay, Canada and the other countries found time to go sight-seeing, dining at various restaurants and even spent time at some entertainment spots.
However, sadly there is still no sport policy to properly guide and ensure associations receive the requisite assistance needed to attract more events to this dear land of ours. The Guyana Cycling (GCF) has ambitions of hosting the Caribbean Cycling Championships in 2018, whether or not that will be realized is left to be seen as the federation cannot even at this time afford to send cyclists to the very same championships hosted by Martinique and Barbados this year.
The Global Sports Market is an ever growing one; in 2005 the revenue garnered from sports was $46.5 Billion, that figure has since reached $90.9 Billion as of this year (2017). Further research revealed that sport event travellers spend as much as all other types of travelers combined.
The market is ripe for the taking, the government of Guyana, administrators in the ministry responsible for sport should act now, “make hay while the sun shines.” A Sport Policy would pave the way for associations to bid for the hosting of major events and this ultimately would benefit Guyana’s economy as well as our athletes as they would be exposed to a high level of competition.
To be the best you have to compete with the best and as a nation we have it all.