“I just want to take this opportunity to also lobby for more support for all our sport disciplines. I mean, we have the talent, it’s there, everyone can see it, but the difference between us and other participating countries is the preparation and support.”
GOA VP Dr Karen Pilgrim
Those were the words of reigning National Table Tennis Champion Christopher Franklin, and they resonated the most during the Guyana Olympic Association’s (GOA) Press Conference on Saturday morning at the Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara Head Office, as officials, coaches and athletes summed up their performances at the recently concluded 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Table Tennis Player Cristopher Franklin
In a sombre tone, Franklin continued, “So, I’m taking this opportunity to lobby for more support from the Government (and) Private Sector. Let’s have a partnership to carry sports forward in this country.”
Case in point, much of Franklin’s utterances were true. Several Guyanese athletes got very close to the podium in Birmingham, England a few weeks ago. Franklin and Shemar Britton got to the Round of 16 of the Men’s Doubles; Nathalie Cummings led a lone campaign in the Quarterfinals of the Women’s Singles; Cummings was then joined by Chelsea Edghill in the Women’s Doubles Round of 16; Boxers Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam both reached to the Quarterfinals of their varying weight classes; and in Athletics, the male 4x100M team finished fourth in the final of the event.
However, what must be taken into consideration is the Table Tennis team’s initial cry of not having adequate preparation, and the relay team disclosing that they only had two full practice sessions. The talent was there, but the ability to fund preparation, unlike in the wider world, was absent.
Coach Julian Edmonds
Franklin’s plea seemed to have touched a nerve in Athletics Coach Julian Edmonds, who, in his time on the floor, added to the call for more support.
“Going forward, our athletes, they’ve got potential, they’ve got talent, that does not do it alone. Just as Mr. Franklin said, these athletes need support,” Edmonds began.
He went on to say, “I know the GOA has been trying through the different solidarity grants, but take for example, we have Aliyah Abrams, who placed fifth in the 400M at the just concluded indoor championships earlier in the year. Her eligibility is finished, which means now she’s on her own. She has to pay her coach, and look after all expenses. It’s unfortunate that Aliyah has to go and work, because in order to sustain herself and she wants to go further in the sport”.
Several of the Guyanese athletes (and officials) who competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games
To give context to his plea, the Coach reminded, “I’m going to go back in time. This is the same that happened to Ms. Pompey. Whilst Ms. Pompey was successful at the Commonwealth level, I don’t think we should be making the same mistake with somebody that is as talented as Ms. Abrams. So, that’s why I’m making a plea and hope that somebody, you know, would come on board and try to support Ms. Abrams in her quest, so that she don’t have to be a semi-professional athlete; because she will only reach a certain level and no more,” he explained.
“You can’t be competing against full-time professionals and you’re taking up the sport in a part-time basis. It won’t work,” Coach Edmonds opined.
Solutions: A collective effort needed
By these admissions, it was recognized that there lies a large gap in what Guyanese athletes should be provided with and what they actually receive. As such, Vice- President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Dr. Karen Pilgrim, was quizzed on what more the GOA can offer to full-time Guyanese athletes.
Dr. Pilgrim responded, “Coach Julian mentioned Olympic solidarity funds, which was specific to the Olympic games. Also, before the Commonwealth Games, as was mentioned in the pre-games press conference by Mr. Juman Yassin, there was preparations’ funding. So, we get those specific amounts which was given to the athletes or to the associations.
“Then there is smaller amounts available to the GOA to give to the local-level athletes, and it really is not enough,” The GOA VP continued.
Responding to the second part of Guyana Times Sports’ inquiry, on whether there is a need for Government to step in and assist, Pilgrim made it clear that there needs to be a collaboration, not only between the GOA and Government, but Corporate Guyana should also be included.
She elucidated, “So, most countries that I know of, certainly the ones that are doing well, get heavy investment from their Governments and a lot of investment from the Private Sector, and that really is what is needed.
“Of course, it requires then working together, because there may be Private Sector entities that are giving to the athletes that GOA doesn’t know about. So, it really needs the three groups working together to see how best athletes could be assisted,” Dr. Pilgrim concluded.
To be frank, the Commonwealth Games may not be the first or last global event that will open the eyes of Guyanese athletes to the disenfranchisement that they face. And, unfortunately, “We need support for success” will continue to be a trending topic.
