Comprehensive support system for athletes needed
- Says Education Minister Nicolette Henry as World Youth c/ships athletes lauded
The Ministry of Education is looking forward to fostering a closer relationship with athletes who excel academically and athletically.
This is according to Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, who made the comments yesterday during a courtesy call by the top brass of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) along with Daniel Williams and Chantoba Bright, the two athletes which represented Guyana at the just-concluded World U-18 Track and Field Championships.
“We are here for support and we need to have a stronger relationship,” said Henry yesterday at the Main Street ministry.
“We need to have a comprehensive support system for our athletes and we will be grateful to assist for progress, so we have things to talk about,” she added.
Williams and Bright, two of Guyana’s brightest young athletic stars, are students of the Mackenzie High School in Linden.
The duo both have aspirations of attending higher learning institutions like the University of the West Indies or colleges in North America. Scholarships could be on the horizon.
The 17-year-old Williams, defied the odds and surprisingly snared a silver medal in the boys 400m final at the championships which was staged in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Lower Six student, who wants to be a mechanical engineer, not only ran his personal best (46.72s) at the prestigious meet, but became the fastest local youth quarter miler of all time.
He also became the first male World U18 medalist from Guyana.
Bright, who has ambitions of becoming a lawyer, placed fifth in the long jump final.
“We feel a sense of pride and we are elated for your success,” Henry stated.
“Being ranked second and fifth in the world is a great achievement,” said President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson.
“We are very proud of our athletes and their performances, all we need is the necessary support,” Hutson added.
Henry concluded by pointing out that plans are in the pipeline to construct a state of the art, track and field centre in the mining town. “We just need to sort out some inhouse logistical issues, funds have already been allocated,” the minister declared.