<p>Twenty-six-year-old Emanuel Archibald, a former student of the University of<br />
Guyana, will have a chance to fly the Golden Arrowhead high and make his<br />
countrymen proud when he hits the world stage to compete in the 100-meter race in<br />
the 2021 Olympics scheduled for Tokyo, Japan. The Games of the XXXII Olympiad<br />
will begin on Friday, July 23 and go until Sunday, August 8, 2021.</p>

<p>Emanuel, who had commenced studies in Agriculture at UG, was handpicked in 2016<br />
by the University of Guyana’s Sports Coordinator, Ms. Lavern Fraser, to attend the<br />
University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Annual Track and Field Meet.<br />
At that event the budding athlete did not fail to impress.</p>

<p>According to Ms. Fraser, the Guyanese team had comprised of six athletes and<br />
Emanuel’s performance stood out and was recognised by UWI’s Mona Campus’<br />
coach Mr. Keery-Lee Rickets. Upon Emanuel’s return to Guyana, UWI Mona Campus<br />
offered the young and promising athlete a partial scholarship to pursue his studies<br />
and develop his athletic skills.</p>

<p>“After Mr. Rickets saw Emanuel’s performance, he put forward a proposal to me, he<br />
offered to provide him with a partial scholarship that would cover his boarding,<br />
lodging, meals and stipend,” Ms. Fraser recalled.</p>

<p>She further explained: “UG had to cover his tuition, Emanuel also had to go through<br />
the application process and meet the requirements to attend the University. Once<br />
that was taken care of, things got into play. The National Sports Commission (NSC)<br />
was approached and the details of the offer and needs were provided.<br />
Though the Commission is not a scholarships body, it was agreed that since it was sports-related,<br />
a grant can be provided to UG specifically for the payment of the tuition fees. The<br />
monies that were received were transferred directly to UWI, Mona for Emanuel’s<br />
tuition.”</p>

<p>Emanuel had gotten a transfer from UG and is now in third year at UWI, Mona doing<br />
sports coaching. He recalled that the transition to training and adjusting to life and<br />
studies in Jamaica was easier than expected. “The transition was easier than I<br />
thought it would have been because UWI has a sports system that gives you the<br />
advantage to train and get back to classes and so forth,” he said.</p>

<p>The University of Guyana has provided and continues to provide unwavering support<br />
to Emanuel over the years as he would have represented the institution in numerous<br />
track and field events. The confident athlete expressed elation at having the<br />
opportunity to represent his country at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. “Wow, firstly, it<br />
wasn’t a goal I thought I would achieve, but to be going to represent Guyana is a<br />
privilege. It means the world to me. I want to thank my parents, Ms. Fraser and UG<br />
for introducing me back to track and field and providing the springboard for me to<br />
prove myself on the world stage. This would not have been possible without them,”<br />
he noted ahead of his departure for Tokyo.</p>

<p>Ms. Fraser said: “I am really happy, that through UG, Emanuel was afforded the<br />
opportunity and he has made good use of it, and now he can call himself an<br />
Olympian, and the University of Guyana can say that they provided the springboard<br />
for him to get there.”</p>

<p>The Sports Coordinator noted that UG is currently working on a sports policy which<br />
will pave the way for students to be highly successful at both sports and academics at<br />
the same time. Ms. Fraser took the opportunity to urge prospective students with a<br />
passion for sports and academics to enroll for a programme at UG since the<br />
opportunities for success are endless.</p>

<p>Presently, Emanuel is training under the guidance of his coach Mr. Keery-Lee<br />
Rickets. He is confident that he has what it takes to shine on the world stage.</p>

<p>The Chancellor, Prof. Edward Greene, Vice-Chancellor, XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed<br />
Martin; Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Dr. Emanuel Cummings (Academic Engagement)<br />
and Dr. Melissa Ifill (Institutional Advancement); and the entire Senior Management<br />
Team, Faculty and Staff of the University of Guyana extend best wishes to Emanuel<br />
and the entire Guyana delegation competing in the Olympics.</p>

<p>For a full list of UG’s Degree Offerings click here:<br />
<a href="https://www.turkeyenonline.uog.edu.gy/srms/student/prospective/about_applying /offeredprogs.php">https://www.turkeyenonline.uog.edu.gy/srms/student/prospective/about_applying<br />
/offeredprogs.php</a></p>

<p>The University of Guyana is the 58th year state University of Guyana. It offers 136<br />
programmes in over 60 disciplines online and face-to-face in 8 campuses across<br />
Guyana. With a student population of now 10,000, UG has provided education,<br />
learning and research for over 50,000 alumni. The mission of the University is to<br />
discover, generate, disseminate and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the<br />
service of the community, the nation and of all mankind within an atmosphere of<br />
academic freedom that allows for free and critical inquiry. UG’s forward thinking<br />
Blueprint 2040 is currently setting the course for the University’s future design and<br />
institutional response to the changing needs of Guyana.</p>

<p><strong>Contact:</strong><br />
Ms. Krest Cummings<br />
Public Relations Officer<br />
Department of Events Conferences and Communications (DECC)<br />
592-623-5104</p>

<p>
<style type="text/css">.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px}   .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}
</style>
</p>
