After months of preparation the first leg of the 2009 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) will commence today in Georgetown featuring male and female teams from French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana, competing at football, athletics and swimming.

Part of the French contingent here for the IGG games. (Orlando Charles photo)

Both Suriname and French Guiana arrived in the country yesterday, all oozing with confidence ahead of the championships which according to the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be one like never before seen at the IGG games.

Suriname are the defending overall champions after winning in  male football last year and finishing second in the swimming and athletics championships.

However, the French who are often considered as the minnows of the games will be aiming to defend their swimming title while host Guyana are seeking to make a clean sweep of the athletics championships.

Speaking to Stabroek Sport last evening upon arrival, Suriname and French Guiana shared the view that their teams this year are not as competitive as last year’s team.

They both said that since they were several events prior to the IGG Games, their more seasoned athletes are a bit worn out but nevertheless a competition of high calibre is still expected.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese contingent noted that  most of their athletes were tied up with the CXC exams and they had to turn to some of the younger and inexperienced athletes.

Also for the first time in the history of the IGG games, the male and females will be vying for separate championships and this, according to the organizers, was to have more females involved in sports among  the three countries.

The Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary will play host to today’s grand opening at 10:00 am and immediately after athletics will sprint off the 2009 games followed by swimming at the Castellani Pool.

From 3:00 pm, Guyana’s male and female football teams will clash with their French counterparts over at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground which will kick start the football championships.
The games will culminate on Sunday.