…GTTA lays out strict COVID-19 protocols in proposal to NCTF
By Timothy Jaikarran
GTTA President Godfrey Munroe
While the COVID-19 pandemic is having its way for now, there is hope that with vaccination drives and persons following the COVID 19 protocols that the number of cases in Guyana would decline. Such a decline would make it possible for there to be a resumption of certain sports, like table tennis.
According to Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) President Godfrey Munroe, the organisation has written the COVID-19 task force seeking permission for a restart and was hopeful for a favourable response.
In a sit-down with Guyana Times Sport, Munroe expounded on the possibility of table tennis activities being restarted, along with local tournaments. He relayed that tournaments was a key area the GTTA wished to have restarted since they formed a crucial element of the athletes’ training and technical and tactical development and was essential to mitigating against the loss of players or players’ interest.
Elishaba John on the go in the National Seniors Table Tennis Championships in February 2020
“We have written the National COVID Task Force (NCTF) seeking their approval and blessings in view of proceeding with non-spectator engagement, single elimination-type competition which simulates our normal training engagement, which has limitations on numbers of persons at the competition venue. The requisite signage, sanitisation stations and Personal Protective Equipment; the requisite monitoring and enforcement and would only allow limited number of persons at the venue at any one time and follow the NCTF COVID-19 Guidelines and the ITTF COVID-19 guidelines,” Munroe outlined.
Despite the pandemic, the GTTA has continued to do work in schools
He noted that the protocol the Association has set out allowed the draws to be made well in advance, the system of play schedule and times of play to be developed and advertised; and for players to be at the venue only when matches are scheduled. It also mandates the use of two tables and the marking of balls which each player would use, sanitisation of venues and surroundings, the wearing of masks for all officials and players with the exception for players competing, thermometer checks, hand sinks and live streaming, which would eliminate having spectators in attendance. Also in place would be virtual meetings to apprise the systems in place and penalties for infringement or violations of the established codes and guidelines.
“The safety of our fraternity is of primary and paramount importance. We understand the Task Force’s concerns given the increased number of cases, we have been navigating this since the gazette order would have allowed training and were able to have our national team members training in preparation for the Olympic trials in Argentina. We think and believe that our proposal will be favourably considered since as outlined we wouldn’t wish to risk any player or official being infected as we venture out,” Munroe added.
He revealed that the GTTA has had feedback through Captain Williams of the NCTF and Director Hussain, who are currently studying the Association’s proposal and have queried a few aspects. Munroe explained that the team would be shortly engaging the GTTA on its approach moving forward.
