Guyana’s only Olympic medallist, boxer Michael Parris, has publicly declared his support for President Irfaan Ali’s bid for a second term. The endorsement was announced on Wednesday, highlighting Parris’s appreciation for the current administration’s commitment to sports and recognition of athletes.
Parris praised President Ali’s government for its consistent acknowledgment of his legacy and the broader Guyanese sports community. “I have received genuine respect and recognition from President Ali’s administration,” he stated. “It is truly heartwarming because they have not only recognized my contributions but have engaged with me to highlight that athletes like myself of the past are not forgotten.”
The former boxer noted his positive interactions with the National Sports Commission and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, which he described as providing both tangible and intangible support for athletes. In contrast, Parris reflected on his experiences with the previous APNU/AFC administration, stating that during their tenure, his contributions were often overlooked, with only fleeting mentions during the Olympic campaign.
“It was a difficult period where my unique contribution to Guyana and the Caribbean Community was overlooked,” Parris lamented. “The current government has taken the opposite approach and frankly reversed course, which highlights a sincere commitment to the development of sports and its athletes, both past and present. This is why I am supporting President Ali for a second term.”
Michael Parris made history in 1980 by winning a bronze medal in the bantamweight division at the Summer Olympics in Moscow, a feat that remains Guyana’s only Olympic medal to date and the only Olympic medal in boxing for CARICOM.
His endorsement underscores a growing recognition of the importance of sports in national identity and the government’s role in promoting and supporting athletes in Guyana.
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