GOA President writes Minister Charles Ramson Jr. on cooperation in sport
Kaieteur News – President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) KA Juman-Yassin recently wrote to the Minister of Youth Culture and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. on their respective organizations and the association or federation that the GOA represents could work with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the minister to ensure friendly solutions to problems and joint efforts to ensure overall development of sport and athletes.
Here is the full text of the missive to the sports minister:
Dear Minister,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Guyana Olympic Association and in relation to several concerns raised by Associations in relation to the Press Release issued by your Ministry and published in the Stabroek News on 7th December, 2020.
The statement purports, among other things, to set out your Ministry’s objectives in relation to sporting activities, the organization and conduct of such activities / competitions, the approval and or no objection to the holding / organizing of sporting events, the sanction of Clubs or participants the role of your Ministry in the development of sport and in the working relationship with Sports Federations / Associations.
The Guyana Olympic Association is made up of over twenty National Federations / Associations and each of these Federations / Associations is affiliated with their International Federations. These International Federations are all affiliated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC is the organizer of the Olympics and what games are the pinnacle that athletes want to compete for and win medals. The IOC recognizes that each of the affiliated International Federations is responsible for their sport throughout the world and has made all their respective rules in relation to competitions, qualifications to compete in the Olympics and other competitions, exclusions, constitutions and several other factors.
Guyana competes in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games, Central and Caribbean Games, South American Games and the Islamic Games. All of the above Games Organizers, with the exception of the Islamic Games, acknowledge the IOC and are guided by the Olympic Charter. The Olympic Charter is the codification of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, Rules and Bye-Laws adopted by the IOC. One of the three main purposes of the Olympic Charter is as follows –
“In addition, the Olympic Charter defines the main rights and mutual obligations of the three main constituents of the Olympic Movement, the IOC, the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees, as well as the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games, all required to comply with the Olympic Charter ”.
The Fundamental Principles of Olympism set out in the Olympic Charter are as follows:
(4) The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility to practice sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding and a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.
(5) Recognizing that sport takes place within the framework of society, sports organizations in the Olympic Movement must apply political neutrality. They have autonomy rights and obligations, which include establishing and controlling the rules of sport freely, determining the structure and governance of their organizations, enjoying the right to elections free from any external influence and the responsibility for ensuring that the principles of good governance have to apply it.
(7) Membership of the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition of the IOC.
National Federations / Societies are guided by their respective constitutions, rules and byelaws and do not oblige or affiliate clubs or individuals. It is voluntary and clubs and persons when they join or become affiliated with a National Federation / Association agree to abide by and be bound by the constitutions, rules and byelaws. To the best of my knowledge, all clubs and individuals involved or joining are fully aware of their obligations.
National Federations / Associations make rules for the administration of their respective sports and are for the most part guided by the principles of their International Federations. The constitutions of National Federations / Societies are mostly approved by their International Federation.
The constitution of the Guyana Olympic Association has been approved by the IOC. These rules include the regulations for running competitions, eligibility, selection and so on. If an entity or group of people wishes to organize an event under the umbrella of a National Federation / Association then they must follow the rules governing it. Failure to do so will result in the event not being approved and consequently consequences may follow and affect that entity, group of people and event participants. If anyone is allowed to organize a sporting event without the approval of the recognized body then chaos will ensue. These events may not be run within the recognized rules or safe guards, may be gambling, prohibited substance use, unsafe competition, people who may have been prevented or barred from taking part, people may lose their amateur status because of the awards and so on.
Any of the unfortunate events mentioned above can most likely cause disrespect for the established rules and agreements that International
Federations expect from their affiliates. This can result in National Societies in Guyana being reprimanded, suspended, fined or expelled from their International Federations which will mean that our athletes will not be able to compete in games where that International Federation is involved . If everyone is free, without established rules, then such a position will not be accepted or condoned by the Guyana Olympic Association and its affiliated members.
I have seen your enthusiasm and work in the short time you have been appointed Minister and we look forward to building a strong partnership with you and your Ministry for the development of sport and our young people. I and all our members want and are working to establish a program where our athletes can be supported, if not fully, then to a great extent so that their dreams and the dreams of every Guyanese can be realized.
I would suggest, if you wish, that we can meet with my executive or Associations to discuss the way forward so that there may not be any friction to affect the smooth operation of our ongoing cooperation. If any person or group has a grouse with a National Federation / Association then it is possible to look at the circumstances and find an appeal within the rules to resolve the issue. People in sport should respect rules and I sincerely hope that this communication would clear up the ambiguity that the statement from your Ministry has seemed to cause. The autonomy and independence of recognized National Federations / Societies must be recognized and if they should do anything detrimental to their sport or athletes then they should be held to account within the parameters of their constitution or appeal to their International Federation. Neither I nor the Guyana Olympic Association will condone or encourage any behavior or behavior that is impractical for the benefit of sport or our athletes.
Best wishes,
KA Juman-Yassin
President
Guyana Olympics
Society