On Sunday, August 23 from 5 pm, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will stage a massive cycling event from the University of Guyana entrance at Liliendaal to the Carifesta Sports Complex dubbed ‘The Big Ride’, under the theme ‘Ride On, Live Long’.
The idea, Minister of Sport, Dr Frank Anthony said is to revamp his ‘fit for life’ programme and to also sensitize the public more on HIV/AIDS.
According to Minister Anthony, the event is intended for anyone with a bicycle of any kind. National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed noted that it is not a race.
“As you know, most of the big cycling events held right now are being sponsored by the ministry,” Anthony said. “We have the three and five-stage event along with the ‘Teach Them Young’ programme. So basically we are hoping to have this slated on our calendar of events and we hope that it will be very big.”
Already, he said, some 300 persons from various government ministries and organisations have signalled their intentions of participating.“We are confident, based on feedback, that this event will be successful. We are also offering prizes to the village, organisation and ministry to field the biggest contingent… and also for the best uniformed group. And there is no age limit for persons who want to participate,” Anthony said.
Specially made hand bands with the theme ‘Ride On, Live Long’ will also be given to each participant; an idea, he said which came from the work study students at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).
NAPS representative Nazim Hussain said it would be an opportune time to reach hundreds of youths in one gathering.
