-Guyana to host Rugby Sevens tournament in 2010
By Marlon Munroe
The Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO) yesterday signed an agreement with three major international organisations appointing Guyana as the host of the 21st Central America and Caribbean Games Rugby Sevens Tournament.
The agreement was signed at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence among CASCO, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), and the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) giving its affiliate the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) the right to stage next year’s tournament.
Present at yesterday’s signing were representatives from CACSO, NACRA, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the GOA and the GRFU.
A three-man delegation from CACSO said they were impressed with the National Stadium, the venue for the tournament.
General Manager of the North American and Caribbean affiliate bodies of the IRB, Tom Jones, said yesterday that he was satisfied with the facilities at the stadium for the event in 2010.
Organising Committee Member in Mayguez, Puerto Rico, Professor Luis Padovani and representative of the Technical Committee of CACSO Keith Joseph were the other two members of the inspection party.
Jones also reported that there will be no need to have too many add-ons to the stadium which has an excellent playing surface; facilities for drug testing; adequate accommodation for teams to conduct their warm up and enough seating for spectators.
He noted that the simple layout of the stadium made his task easier.
He lauded the GRFU for the development of the sport in the country and declared that happy days are ahead for the sport especially since it has now become an Olympic sport.
Joseph acknowledged that the facilities were satisfactory and said that he was enthused about the Caribbean making a bid.
Bidding was closed in 2004 and Guyana won the right to host the event ahead of the other 31 affiliate countries of CACSO.
The eight-team tournament, according to GOA President K A Juman Yassin, will give Guyana a chance to host a highly successful tournament.
Juman Yassin and president of the GRFU, Noel Adonis, declared that Guyana has hosted past international events successfully advising that next year that trend will be continued.
Juman Yassin thanked the government for its support especially during the bidding process and in helping to promote sporting tourism.
Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony re-iterated that there had been continuous consultation when the GOA and GRFU had indicated that they wanted to host the event. . Anthony added that he was assured that rugby could be played at the stadium and he also expressed optimism that the event will be successful.
He told the panel that the historic event will get the full support of the government while imploring the local body to do enough to promote the sport.
