There is a lot of news for the “Guyana advanced base” project. Friday September 20, the GIP in charge of this ambitious initiative, intended to make the French overseas region and department in South America a welcoming place before the 2014 World Cup and the Rio 2016 Games, held its third board of directors, at Matoury town hall. The same day, the Olympic judo champion, Lucie Décosse, recently retired from tatami mats, lifted the veil on the plaque of the Maison des Arts Martiaux, a facility which should bear her name.
Two events, therefore, for the same day. Proof that the Guyanese in charge of the project are now in battle order. But Bernard Lama, the vice-president of the GIP, has reminded us in recent days that time is running out, at least for welcoming delegations before the Football World Cup next year in Brazil. “The end of qualifying is next month,” explained the former Blues goalkeeper to France-Guyane. It is now that foreign federations are identifying training locations, so it is now that we need the means to seek out the decision-makers. »
Very active on the 2014 World Cup file, Bernard Lama recently met Alain Giresse, the Senegal coach, to discuss with him the possible arrival of the African team in Guyana. He is due to go to Dakar in November. Another track: Ivory Coast. A country that Senegal must meet in the Africa zone play-off for a place in Brazil in 2014.
In the longer term, that is to say in the perspective of the Rio Games in 2016, the GIP is also making good progress. A delegation from “Advanced Base Guyana” traveled to Nice at the beginning of the month for the Francophonie Games. Its representatives met several heads of foreign delegations to praise the merits of Guyana, its sports facilities, its French-speaking character and its proximity to Brazil, a border country. Several African, European and Asian countries have expressed interest. Canada has also expressed its desire to seriously study the issue.
Another concrete step forward: the signing in Nice of an agreement with Conféjes, the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie. According to its terms, its representatives undertake to serve as relays for the Guyanese project in their own country, by ensuring its promotion.
The coming weeks could still bring talk about the “Guyana advanced base” project, particularly in the French sports movement. Francis Luyce, the president of the French Swimming Federation, will make a two-day visit there, on October 7 and 8. In his capacity as the first elected official in French swimming but also, and even above all, with the hat of chef de mission for France at the Rio Games in 2016.
