Chance lands MVP...
-reiterates that athletes need tangible support to succeed
athletes need to get money. Once athletes get an incentive to compete, they will do well, once the athletes do well, the association and the country looks good,” the national sprinter continued
He opined that associations need to work closer with the Private Sector to learn more about the business of sport. He said that both of his endorsements were achieved through his individual mobilization, when the association should be the vanguard.
According to Chance, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) are like parents, and “the president and administrators need to consider the needs of their athletes, like therapists and gears, for instance”. He said these parents need to “treat their athletes like their children”; like it is the association’s responsibility to take care of them, and not like a “liability”. Chance also indicated that since his return from the Commonwealth Games in August this year he has been trying to meet with the Minister of Sport or officials at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports but so far those attempts have been futile.
Chance who represented Guyana at the last Commonwealth Games, believes that athletes and the association that govern the sport can have a “mutual beneficial relationship”, instead of the often-strained relationship owed in a lot of instances to the athlete’s mistreatment.
He related that the recent Keevin Allicock story was a big embarrassment to the country and the athlete, but it was just once instance where such mistreatment was publicised. Chance informed that there are many instances of administrations failing athletes that go unpublished.
“The whole issue with Keevin at the South American Championships is just the first time it is actually being publicised for many persons to understand how athletes are being treated. It was an embarrassment and wake up call,” he observed.
Chance was awarded a full athletics scholarship to the University of South Carolina in 2018 and broke the school’s
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MVP Sports, Ian Ramdeo (left) hands over the endorsement package to Arinze Chance at the
store’s Giftland Mall location. 16-year-old 400m indoor record a year later. His personal best outdoor time is 46.05 seconds in 2019 while his indoor best is 46.15 that same year. His season best this year is 46.66 seconds as he sets sights World Championships in Hungary.
Chance, who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, indicated that he cannot thank MVP Sports enough for their timely gesture. He said that training and competing in the United States and anywhere is expensive and MVP Sports will help him cover those expenses since his goal is to compete in as many events leading up to the World Championships.
“MVP Sports is definitely putting me closer to where I want to be with regards to support, being able to get to more competitions and being able to support myself as an athlete in the United States. It’s not just about living expenses, supplements etc. its more than that, like therapy, so I am definitely grateful for what MVP is doing for me,” he said.
The elite athlete, who recently competed at the Joint Services event in Guyana over the weekend, before winging out to the United States of America, “extended gratitude” to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MVP Sports, Ian Ramdeo for his support.