Teixeira promises help for Pompey to stay on circuit
- urges parents to invest in sports development
By Michael DaSilva Stabroek News
September 1, 2002
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Gail Teixeira on Friday reminded parents of the importance of investing in the development of sports and introducing children to physical activity at a young age.
Addressing well wishers at a reception held in honour of Guyana's Common-wealth Games gold medalist Aliann Pompey at the Umana Yana, Teixeira said: "It is important for us in Guyana to invest in the development of sports, and to give our young people an early introduction to physical activity."
Yes! You've guessed it
Teixeira said many parents concentrate on examinations for their children from a very young age. This, she feels is a problem affecting national associations and the ministry.
"So many children at a very young age are going to private lessons, morning, noon and night, and therefore, the time when they play games and get introduced to sports, has been reduced.
"We are asking you, the adults here, to help us in the campaign to get our children physically active, out running, playing, swimming and jumping.
"In the beginning, it might be just having fun, but some kids have a special aptitude for a given sport and then we are able to invest in the their development and training," the minister said.
In paying tribute to Pompey Teixeira declared: "Aliann is a wonderful young woman. She's serious and she has dedicated her life to her sport. But she has also been able to do something that is very, very difficult for many, many athletes, and that is to concentrate on her academic training as well as her physical training in a sport that she likes.
"The ministry has supported local athletes going overseas in a multiplicity of ways, and so Aliann, being here, is an example of the coming together of many forces, a strong family background, good coaches, good exposure and experience in the competition arena, tremendous discipline on her part, and dedication," Teixeira said.
She went on... "Also the support of the national association here, the AAA, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the hidden partner which is not always known, and that is, the Ministry of sports, which sometimes, have to finance our attendance at international and regional competitions," Teixeira told the gathering.
Teixeira also spoke of the role Pompey's father, Leon, has played in her life.
"Mr.Pompey, I've seen how your daughter looks to you for support, advice and guidance," Teixeira said, adding "and so I call on the Guyanese parents here, to use this as an example of how we can move forward as well, if each one of us contributes to this."
Teixeira used the opportunity to call for more Guyanese fathers to come out and see their children compete in sports.
"Aliann will stay in our hearts, and we will watch her grow and develop, and we will try in what ever way we can, as best as we can, to give her the support, financially and otherwise, to be able to keep on staying in the circuit," Minister Teixeira declared.