Teixeira lauds GABBF, urges decentralisation
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
October 10, 2002
The Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding Federation (GABBF) received kudos from Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Gail Teixeira, at its Appreciation Ceremony for three bodybuilders who did Guyana proud at the recently concluded Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships in Venezuela.
The ceremony was held to honour Sylvon Gardner, Paul Nichols and Anthony Thom for their excellent performances at the CAC championships.
Gardner, dubbed the `Pocket Hercules' won Guyana's first CAC bantamweight gold medal in 30 years. Nichols won a silver medal in the lightweight division while Thom reached the final in the bantamweight division but placed sixth.
Speaking at the Ceremony on Tuesday night at the Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Teixeira said she is always happy to attend functions of the GABBF because the body was very well organised, knew what it is doing and have a clear vision of where they want to go and how to get there.
Teixeira said the GABBF has made tremendous strides in the last few years, adding that she always makes references to two of the smaller associations - weight lifting and bodybuilding - in the sports community, as two associations that have tried the hardest to put their organisations in order.
"The GABBF surprised all of us when, in preparation for (CAC) 2004, they went around meeting everybody, presenting what they needed and have already put up their budget for the championships."
The GABBF won the right to host the CAC 2004 championships and has already launched the event.
Flyers and posters have already been circulated to CAC member countries and a number of local companies have already committed themselves to assist with sponsorship.
The minister said she was impressed with Gardner's performance at the national championships held prior to the recent CAC championships, but had some doubts as to whether Gardner would have done well at the championships.
"So when he won the gold medal, I was extremely excited, and doubly so, because he is employed by my ministry at the National Cultural Centre," she said.
Teixeira also lauded the performance of Nichols and Thom and noted that Guyana has talented athletes, who, with the right kind of training and the right kind of support, can go far.
She charged the GABBF to have strong contenders in every division at the 2004 championships and to decentralise the sport to other parts of the country.