IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVES
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
October 10, 2003
GUYANA’S only Olympic medallist Michael Parris has been honoured by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and CARICOM.
According to Permanent Secretary in the ministry Keith Booker, Parris, who landed a bantamweight bronze medal in boxing at the Moscow Olympics, has been featured in an article in a CARICOM publication that is now a collectors’ item.
Booker said that the ministry saw it as a fitting gesture to present the book to Parris.
Parris has also had the privilege of having the gym in the National Park named after him for his achievement.
The ministry also used the presentation ceremony to meet with the Chinese coaches who will be assisting with table tennis and karate for the next year.
Minister Gail Teixeira noted that the coaches Zhou Ping who will assist with table tennis and Zeng Yang with karate, will also be taken to the outlying areas of Guyana to develop the disciplines.
Minister Teixeira said that the Chinese government will make provision for accommodation and meals for the coaches, who also have their interpreters, while the Guyana government will undertake the transportation and programming for the coaches.
Since their arrival over a week ago, Ping has been working along with the table tennis players, but Yang will have to wait a bit longer since he will be teaching a new form of Martial Arts known as Wushu.
Ping has represented his city of Shenyang during the 1970-73 period and has coached players such as Ma Lin, the 2000 World Cup men’s singles champion and Mr Han Yang among others.
Yang will work along with the president of the local karate federation, Charles Woon-a-Tai, on the programme.
Before this is done however, a demonstration session has been scheduled for Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to enlighten interested persons on the basics and requirements of Wushu.
Yang is a first class national Wushu judge and has some 23 gold, 6 silver and 9 bronze medals to his name under various national and provincial competitions.
The coaches’ introduction to Guyana’s programme has been made possible through the China/Guyana government cooperation. (Leeron Brumell)