Pompey, Burnette, Thom, McWatt to carry Golden Arrowhead to Athens
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
July 10, 2004
Guyana Olympic Association President K.A. Juman-Yassin (centre) makes a point at yesterday's press conference at Olympic House. He is flanked by Amateur Athletic Association President Claude Blackmoore (left) and GOA Secretary-General Ivor O'Brien. (Aubre
Four athletes have been selected to represent Guyana at this year's Olympic Games which will be held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to 29. The names of the officials to accompany the team are yet to be disclosed.
Addressing members of the media at a press conference yesterday, Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President K.A. Juman-Yassin said Guyana will be represented by track athletes Aliann Pompey and Marian Burnette, who are both based in the United States; swimmer Onan Thom who is based in Trinidad and Tobago and England-based weightlifter Julian McWatt who is a wild-card entry.
The GOA had submitted the names of three athletes for possible wild-card selection. The other two were Jonathan Sankar (table tennis) and Paul Lewis (boxing).
Garfield Wiltshire, who will accompany the team as Chef-de-Mission, said he cannot at this time disclose the names of the other officials but informed that one official each will accompany Thom and McWatt and possibly two will accompany the athletes. However, Stabroek Sport has been reliably informed that Pamela Phillips has been tipped as one of the officials.
Asked why two officials are being considered to accompany Pompey and Burnett, Juman-Yassin said while one official has already been identified, the AAA has the option to accredit another official.
He explained that a request was made by Burnette's coach to go to Athens with her.
"We have acceded to this, but we have also asked Pompey if her coach is desirous of accompanying her. As of yesterday, Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana President Claude Blackmoore was still waiting for a reply to the e-mail he sent," Juman-Yassin said, adding "If her coach can also go, then we will have to determine which of the two coaches will go. For us, it will be good if both coaches can go."
Meanwhile, the Bi-Annual Barry Massy Memorial Games will be held on August 1 and 2 at the GCC ground.
The two-day games will see track-and-field athletes as well as cyclists vying for top honours in 110 events. The Games are being organised by the GOA in conjunction with the AAA and the Guyana Cycling Federation through financial and other assistance from the Guyana New York Sports Association which came on board this year.
There will be 58 events on the first day and 52 on the second day.
Richard Thompson, a member of the New York Association, is currently in Guyana having discussions with the AAA, the GCF and the GOA.
Other members of the New York Association are expected in Guyana shortly.
Thompson said the New York association has been in existence since 1972, but has only been involved with Guyanese at home from 1980.
Thompson said to date the association has been assisting school children drawn from schools and clubs in Linden.
According to Thompson, two Barry Massy Memorial Scholarships will be given to local athletes who meet the criteria, which are currently being worked out by the AAA and the GOA.