Guyanese athletes will now have to go through a different process for selection ahead of the Youth Olympic Games. Athletics Association of Guyana President Aubrey Hutson made the disclosure as he announced the hosting of the replacement event.
“Well, we are in final preparation for Youth Olympics this year, and we were supposed to go into a trial, which would include all the countries in the Americas coming from Canada all the way down to Argentina; that is not coming to happen anymore,” Hutson said.
Athletics Association of Guyana President Aubrey Hutson
The international meet was initially scheduled to be held in Columbia, but there was a political upheaval with regard to sport in that country. As such, the meet was moved to Guatemala; however, that country experienced social unrest and was unable to host the games. Finally, it was decided that each country would host their meet locally.
“What the area is looking at right now is us holding our championships and producing the kind of results so that they can determine who can come to the Youth Olympics,” he explained.
When these championships are held, the results will then be forwarded to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Olympics Committee (IOC), and they will determine who will represent Guyana at the Games.
As of last year, Guyana had one universality spot at the Youth Olympics; Hutson shared that he has been making strides to have that changed, so more athletes would be able to represent Guyana at the Games.
“I’ve argued constantly for this to change; we should go to trials. If I send 10 athletes and all 10 of them get first, they should all go to the Youth Olympics,” he said.
Some consideration has been given to Hutson’s plea and as such, Guyana now has three spots. The AAG will host the National Youth and Junior Championships in order to make the selections for the Youth Olympic Games.
