After a popular boxing coach made a call earlier this week for athletes to be given more incentives when they perform exceptionally at international sporting events, Social Cohesion Minister with responsibility for sport, Dr George Norton has broken his silence on the seemingly controversial issue.
When questioned about his thoughts on Poole’s plea, Norton said, “I think it would have been best for Mr Poole to consult with his director before he made such an inaccurate statement to the press.”
The Minister went on to explain that the yet-to-be-completed National Sport Policy would ensure that those athletes who were feeling neglected would be sufficiently repaid for their contributions to the country.
“When it is structured, all Guyanese sportsmen and women will be compensated adequately and fairly,” Dr Norton stressed.
He noted that the structured approach was necessary to avoid any confrontation similar to what occurred recently. Additionally, he explained that the respective sports associations would be involved in the process. “We are involving all the sports associations, because we don’t want anyone approaching the sports ministries saying I did this for Guyana, now I want my house, land and car,” the Minister said.
Dr Norton also went on to disclose that it was not a case where athletes were not being given anything at all: “Sometimes, the Government may not give cash per se to the organisations, but we waiver air fares and tax and we provide them with other things.”
As an example of such, he related to Guyana Times Sport that the Ministry has provided free transportation to Suriname for the basketball fraternity who are slated to compete this weekend.
On Tuesday, Guyana Boxing Association Technical Director and Coach Terrence Poole called for better incentives to be given to athletes when they return from international competitions with medals. “Let the athletes get tangible things; they must want to go on further. Not just congratulations, we’re fed up with that now; we passed that stage,” an evidently frustrated Poole had said.
Poole’s statement was later endorsed by Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President KA Juman-Yassin. “An athlete goes, he comes back – a photo opportunity and that’s the end. I endorse what Terrence has said and we need something much more tangible from the Government. The GOA cannot do everything,” he stated.
