-1,600 plus visitors expected to boost economy
Region 10 is diligently preparing to host the 48th Schools Annual National Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championship as it is likely to attract thousands of sport fans and will be an economic boon to the town.
In an interview last week Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo told Stabroek News that the people of Linden are looking forward to the games as they are keen to reclaim the premier national trophy for school athletics. The Championships will be held between November 18-22 under a reported budget of about $10M.
Mingo reveal that preparations are well into the advance stages for the games set for the Mackenzie Sports Club. He said work being done on the sports club ground is almost complete and athletes will benefit from the legacy of Carifesta X as the main pavilions, toilets and dressing rooms had been upgraded for the festival.
This year, swimmers will be using the newly rehabilitated pool at the sports club. Bosai Minerals Group Guyana, the Chinese owned company that owns a majority stake in the Linmine Bauxite Company last year, spent about $10M to renovate the pool. Works started in July; including the installation of a new state-of-the-art pump house and repainting the wall that faces the pool.
A sporting village is always set up for events such as these and this year the Mackenzie Primary School on B Gaskin Road was selected to host the athletes. Also, the teams will be housed at the Regma Primary School on Independence Avenue.
Based on previous attendance records the games are likely to attract about 1,600 athletes and officials to the mining town. Parents and well-wishers accompanying the athletes are expected to bring new sources of spending to the businesses and the service industry in the region.
The games were held in the region at least twice before and were slated to be held here last year but were relocated to the Guyana National Stadium. Mingo gave assurances that the hosting of the games will be a comprehensive community effort and the region will fully utilize the skills of trained volunteers for events hosted in Linden for Carifesta X.
Public Relations Officer of the Region Leon Roberts pointed out that the region has over the years produced three Olympic athletes: Marian Burnett, Onan Thom and Desmond Hector – testimony to its sporting legacy. Mingo added that he would like to see the resurgence of track and field as in the days of the Guymine Games held in the region during the 1980s and 1990s. He believes that allowing the region to host these games will add to this resurgence. He said too it is an opportunity to showcase Linden to a new set of visitors and hopefully draw them to other events the region hosts such as the Linden Town Week.
