For the past five years whenever the calendar flips to February, the nation’s fittest athletes prime their bodies for the gruelling Crossfit-style Fitness Games Challenge.
This year will be no different.
During the formal launch of the sixth annual fixture on Thursday evening at Kares Crossfit Gym, the organisers announced that the Caribbean Fitness Challenge will be staged February 9 at the National Park tarmac.
It is the third year that Kares Engineering has signed on to be the title sponsor and according to the promoters, 2020 will usher in the toughest challenge along with the most incentives for the competitors.
Some 31 athletes, 10 of which are foreigners, will compete at this year’s event.
Seven are from Suriname, including their top athlete Mark Tawjoeram, who will head to the Reebok Cross Fit Games in July; one each from Barbados, Canada Trinidad and Tobago.
Only three of the five events have been made public, the other two will be known on competition day.
Jamie McDonald reiterated that the bar has risen.
“You will notice that every year the events get a bit more technical in nature, a bit more difficult. Some people may say a bit more dangerous, although we really try to keep that down to a minimum. I would not say it is more dangerous because the level of athletes has gone up.” When we first started we had a lot of novice athletes and we used to have to programme the workout for your average fitness enthusiast.”
He added, “We kind of built this sport basically from fitness enthusiasts in the gym to where we have actually athletes where they spend three to six hours a day training for CrossFit. The level is higher and this year you will see the level has gone up a bit and this year the athletes will have to work pretty hard to get the money.”
A whopping $500,000 goes to the first place finisher while second to fifth will be rewarded $400,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Every athlete will be given a participation award of $15,000 compliments of Kares Engineering and Lotus Hardware. Moreso, athletes over the age of 30 will be rewarded with $100,000 (first), $50,000 (second) and $30,000 (third).
Additionally, this year, 15 teens will battle in the Under-17 category. Teen athletes will receive $30,000 for first place, second place $25,000 and third place $20,000.
Tickets are on sale at Kares Cross Fit, Genesis Fitness Gym on Durban Street and Fitness Express on Sheriff Street.
Tickets costs $1000.
The Guyana Fitness Games expressed gratitude for the continued support of Lotus Hardware, ANSA McAL Trading through their iCool Water and Lucozade, MVP Sports, Berkinstock Guyana, Pollo Tropical, Star Party Rentals and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. See you at the Games.
