“You have made Guyana Proud” – PM Nagamootoo tells Olympians
— Guyanese Olympians pay courtesy call on Prime Minister
— $300M for the rehabilitation of sports grounds across Guyana
DPI, Guyana, Friday, July 5, 2019
A team of Guyanese Olympians headed by Aliann Pompey this morning paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.
During their conversation, the Prime Minister reflected on fond memories of playing cricket when he was a youngster and highlighted the long history of sport in Guyana, noting that “sports is a conveyer of emotions”.
Pompey briefed the Prime Minister on the 2019 Edition of the Aliann Pompey Invitational (API) Track and Field competition, which is set for July 6 at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.
The team also took the opportunity to raise a few concerns with the Prime Minister who assured that it would be addressed in the shortest of time as he is already in conversation with Minister of Social Cohesion with the responsibility for Youth Sport and Culture, Dr George Norton. He related that the government recently approved $300M for the rehabilitation of sports grounds across Guyana demonstrating the administration’s commitment to the development of youth and sport in Guyana.
Among the athletes to call on the Prime Minister was Jeremy Bascom, a Guyanese sprinter born in Linden who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics, Winston George, who also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics and was named Male Athlete of the year in 2011 and 2013 by the Athletics Association of Guyana.
Also, there was Adam Harris – an American sprinter who represented Guyana in the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2009 World Championships, 2013 World Championships and 2014 World Indoor Championships; Jennifer Innis, a sprinter and long jumper who competed in the women’s 100 metres and long jump at the 1980 Summer Olympics; Andrew Harry who competed in the men’s 4 × 400 metres relay at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Aliyah Abrams, also a sprinter, competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the women 400 metres race. Also accompanying the team was Geoffery Sankies who is part of the International Judo Federation.
Pompey commended the Prime Minister for taking time to engage with the Olympians. She took time to explain that the letters ‘OLY’ (meaning Olympian) that appear after the names of certain athletes are post-nominal letters granted to sportsmen and women who have participated in various Olympic Games.
The Prime Minister encouraged Pompey to continue showcasing local athletes through her track and field event.
The Aliann Pompey Invitational is the premier international track and field competition in Guyana. In its first year, the competition hosted 11 athletes who went on to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The inaugural meet saw over 50 athletes from across the globe vying for top spots in 17 track and field events. The meet is held in honour of the country’s 2002 Commonwealth gold medallist, Pompey.
Images: Keno George
Editor’s Note: Post-nominals also called post-nominal initials, are letters placed after a person’s name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, office, military decoration, or honour, or is a member of a religious institute or fraternity.