Dear Editor,
With the 2023 edition of the Central America and Caribbean Games scheduled for 23rd June to 8th July, 2023 in San Salvador El Salvador and Santo Domingo Dominican Republic, the Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association reports on the preparations for these Games.
The multisport Olympic cycle event will see thirty-seven (37) nations from the CAC region competing in over 54 sporting disciplines and events. Guyana will be represented in the 2023 edition of the games by the sports disciplines of Boxing, Badminton, Swimming, Table Tennis, Archery, Basketball 3×3, Hockey and the discipline of athletics. The executive committee of the GOA has confirmed experienced sports administrator Dr. Karen Pilgrim as Guyana’s Chef de Mission for the CAC games.
The disciplines of Badminton, Table Tennis all qualified their male and female teams, basketball qualified their female 3×3 teams, hockey which will be played in the Dominican Republic qualified their male team while boxing has qualified on the basis of their elite boxer’s rankings and performance in regional competition. Archery is currently participating at the Copa Meringue in Santo Domingo, and the top archer will qualify.
However, Guyana’s athletics team participation is currently in limbo due to the submission of inadequate Long List biographical information for athletes and officials, which is necessary to allow for the accreditation of athletes and officials into the CAC games accreditation system within the deadline outlined by the organizing committee.
This is despite repeated formal requests and extensions of deadlines to the AAG for the provision of data on the prospective names of athletes and officials that may attend the games based on the organizing committee of the CAC games requirements, information for any athlete/official has not been validated.
The organising committee of the Central America and Caribbean Games have indicated that, due to the short time frame before the games, there would be no extension of deadlines for submissions of athletes and official long list information, since they are battling logistical issues to ensure a quality games.
With the qualifications positions of the respective named disciplines known, the Guyana Olympic Association is currently working with the respective national federations to ensure all the coordination elements are aligned to ensure Guyana’s team successful participation at the 2023 edition of the games.
As it relates to Guyana’s Athletics team attendance at the games, the Executive Committee is gravely concerned at the AAG’s failure to comply with requests in the interest of their athletes. The Secretary General indicated that the GOA has been going above and beyond to assist the AAG but it has been a frustrating exercise.
To explain further, the Secretary General pointed out that the notification of the deadline for the submission of long List information required for the CAC games was conveyed at the March Council Meeting at which Mr. Hutson was present. An email was sent to the respective sports disciplines on March 28, 2023 requesting submission of long list information for prospective athletes/teams who may qualify for the games, this email listed the GOA athletes and official’s registration forms which captures all biographical data requirements used for the purpose of accreditation to Olympic cycle games. A Reminder email was sent on April 4th and another separate email outlining picture specifications was sent on April 5th.
The Guyana Olympic Association received a response from the AAG on April 6th, 2023 with simply a list of names of athletes with no biographical or long list information provided. GOA sent another email on April 8 giving a deadline of April 11 for the receipt of all of the requested information. GOA received some pictures on April 11, but regrettably most of which cannot be used because of not meeting the specifications and requirements for the games, and this position was conveyed to the AAG.
Of note is that attempts at entering the information provided were made by inputting the information provided into the accreditation system in addition to using pictures the GOA had on file for some athletes, however the CAC games accreditation system didn’t allow for acceptance of the photos given that the specific photo requirement is mandatory. As such, GOA sent another email on April 11 giving a further deadline of April 12 for submission of information.
Secretary General Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon further pointed out that the President of the Guyana Olympic Association personally reached out and sent another formal correspondence today for submission. This was done in the interest of the athletes and with a view of assisting the AAG. As of the time of the release of this correspondence the executive committee had received edited photographs of athletes and officials which we will seek to validate and ascertain if it would reach the games requirements.
The Guyana Olympic Association notes this is a deja-vu situation and strongly condemns this tardy position of the AAG which is not indicative of the Olympic values, good governance and in the best interest of sport and our Guyanese athletes.
Yours truly,
Nalini McKoy
Administrative Secretary
Guyana Olympic Association
