Guyana preparing to host SA U-23 Championship despite COVID uncertainty

Guyana is scheduled to host the South American Under-23 Championship on October 8-9 and the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is powering ahead with its planning amidst the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President of the AAG Aubrey Hutson, in an update to News Room Sport this week, said: “The government protocols as it relates to COVID-19 continue to change. South American Seniors that is supposed to be in Buenos Aires [Argentina] from the 14-16 May [but] what happens if the Argentine Government says, anybody coming from Brazil must be quarantined for two weeks before they go out into the public and that in itself will throw a serious monkey wrench into the whole operations and how we function.”

He added, “We continue to prepare as if things are going to get normal, but expect a last-minute call to say ‘hey, we can’t host anymore because of these prevailing conditions.”

Hutson said the AAG hopes to soon meet the Sport Minister again to discuss remedial works for the Synthetic track at Leonora. He noted that the AAG has written to the Minister requesting another briefing.

“…just to bring us up to speed with what is going on with Leonora, but all and sundry, I think we will do well in terms of planning and organising.”

Additionally, the AAG head said it is important that they also prepare a quality team to compete at the championships should it be staged, and develop athletes for non-conventional events.

In 2022, Guyana is slated to host the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, possibly during the Easter Weekend.