Press Release from the Guyana Olympic Association
The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in collaboration with the National Sports Clinic and the Ministry of Health, recently commenced the implementation of a comprehensive Pre-Participation Screening Programme for athletes with prospects for international representation.
This initiative is part of the GOA’s strategic focus on athlete welfare, performance optimisation and injury prevention, aimed at revolutionising the approach to athlete development and care in the nation.
This strategic undertaking marks a new and significant milestone in the GOA’s commitment to advancing the sporting landscape of Guyana.
By implementing a scientifically-driven approach to athlete assessment and management, the programme seeks to assist with enhancing training effectiveness, monitor progression, and mitigate injuries, ultimately fostering a culture of knowledge and excellence within the sporting community.
The Pre-Participation Screening Programme is a mandatory requirement for all athletes being considered for international representation, including those receiving grant support from the GOA and athletes with prospects for representation of Guyana in international competition and Olympic cycle events.
Over the last few months a structured schedule devised to facilitate the screening of athletes across various sporting disciplines was successfully undertaken, under the expert guidance of Ms. Vanessa Wickham at the National Sports Clinic, Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.
The screening sessions provide athletes with the opportunity to undergo comprehensive assessments tailored to their specific disciplines.
The objective of the programme is to adopt a scientific approach to athlete development, ensuring a systematic evaluation of training regimens, progress, improving athletes and coaches’ knowledge on injury management care and prevention as a key basis for improving performance.
The screening process involves comprehensive history-taking and physical examinations, with a focus on ensuring both the medical and musculoskeletal health of each athlete, while also optimising their performance and mitigating injury risks.
The screening will encompass four main components:
- Medical Screening- Ensuring the overall health of the athlete
2. Performance Testing- Evaluating key performance metrics to optimise training
3. Musculoskeletal Screening- Identifying any potential areas of concern in terms of injury risk and physical readiness
4. Nutritional Education
The Pre-Participation Screening is crucial in developing a robust, data-driven approach to athlete performance and injury prevention strategy.
By collecting baseline data, we can track each athlete’s progress, enhance their training, and develop effective rehabilitation strategies when needed.
The screening teams from the National Sports Clinic Ministry of Health includes a combination of medical professionals, including physiotherapists, a psychiatrist and a medical doctor, to ensure a holistic approach to athlete health and performance.
The pre-participation screening comes as an extension of a successfully held sport medicine workshop realised through the collaboration between the Guyana Olympic Association, the National Sports Clinic and Ministry of Health, as the executive continues to explore new partnerships and pathways aimed at developing systems which can lead to enhancing athletes’ performances in Guyana.
