By Treiston Joseph
The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) launched the 2017 edition of the Caribbean Goodwill Swim Meet in grand fashion on Wednesday evening at Pegasus International Hotel.
There were cultural and interpretative dances, the honouring of Vice-President of the GOA Charles Corbin for his contributions to swimming, and most importantly, the unveiling of the 2017 Goodwill Swim meet logo. However, President of GASA, Ivan Persaud, shared that swimming is definitely in need of more support if it is to really reach the next level whether it is through sponsorship or volunteering services.
“We were always wondering why it was so difficult for swimming to get sponsorship, I know we get our assistance from the National Sports Commission (NSC), Government of Guyana, the Olympic Association, but outside of that it is so difficult, but as one of the sponsors told me, you have to make swimming a bit more sexy but I understood sponsors need to get back something in return,” Persaud highlighted.
Persaud also lobbied to the ears of the NSC for an automatic time system for swimming, which will allow the association to host more international events. Director of Sport Christopher Jones assured GASA at the launching that the NSC will aid the organisation in every way it can.
Jones also noted that the NSC has intentions of installing lights at the National Aquatic Centre in order to allow swimmers the ability to train after sunset while noting the commission will work along “assiduously” with the Ministry of Education, with commitment coming from Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, for the purchasing of the automatic time keeping system.
Meanwhile, Trevor Williams, who represented the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture Youth and Sport, in the absence of Ministry with the Ministry of Education Dr Nicolette Henry, gave the charge to the athletes. Williams urged the athletes to make use of the time ahead in order to prepare well for the meet before declaring the event officially launched.
This will be the 23rd edition of the Goodwill swim meet and it will feature seven countries, namely Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Grenada, The Bahamas and Guyana.
