Three days, three sporting disciplines, approximately 156 athletes and just about 45 officials and the twenty third edition of the Inter-Guiana is set to be launched on Friday. The Games are a scaled down version of a major meet offering athletes from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana the opportunity to get some international exposure and the countries the opportunity to build bridges.
Over three days, from Friday through Sunday, the athletes from the three countries will go head to head in basketball, volleyball and cycling to see who will come out on top. The Guyana leg of the Games will follow the first leg which was held in French Guiana during March 21 – 24, 2007 in the disciplines of football, athletics and swimming, all for male and female. Four countries participated in that first leg; those being Suriname, French Guiana and one state each from Brazil and Venezuela as guest countries. Guyana did not participate citing Cricket World Cup commitments at that time. Fast forward seven months and the local athletes and officials including the Department of Sport, are keen to make up for their absence in French Guiana.
The Games will open with ceremony that includes the March Past of athletes and officials, remarks by Representatives of the participating countries, a declaration opening the Games by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, the playing of the National Anthems and hoisting of the National Flags of the respective countries.
A release from the Department of Sport stated that the event which started with one discipline (football) for under – 17 students has grown and is now considered an under – 19 international sports competition among students of the participating countries who must be attending school or an educational institution.
The release stated that all was in readiness for the hosting of the second stage of the Inter Guiana Games with the local athletes having had months of preparation. It cited positive improvements to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the National Gymnasium and added that intense rivalry is anticipated from the young and enthusiastic athletes of the three countries and a high level of sportsmanship is expected. Basketball and volleyball will be played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday at (13:00h), Saturday at (14:00h) and Sunday, at (10:00h).
Cycling will be at the National Park on October 20 at (09:00h) and on the West Demerara Highway on October 21 at (09:00h). Minister of Sport Dr, Frank Anthony has said that ultimately it is not about winners and losers, but the spirit of friendly rivalry, sharing and relationships that the Games are held in.
