The Guyana track and field contingent to the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) dominated the athletics competition and won that segment outright as the games came to a close yesterday evening in Paramaribo, Suriname.
However, for all the hardware earned on the track and in the pits, Team Guyana had to settle for being second overall while the host nation did enough across all the disciplines to reign as the overall champions, with French Guiana finishing third.
While Guyana won the athletics segment, Suriname finished second and French Guiana third. Over in basketball, the French were dominant, claiming both male and female competitions, while Suriname was second and Guyana was third.
In football, the Surinamese were the better teams to lift that trophy, with Guyana settling for second and French Guiana third. Over in the pool, Guyana, which won last year’s swimming competition, relinquished the title to Suriname, with French Guiana third.
The hosts also won the tennis tournament, with French Guiana and Guyana second and third in that order. The chess competition saw the Surinamese claim another victory, with Guyana coming in second and French Guiana in third.
In total, the Surinamese had 50 points overall, while Guyana chalked up 40 and the French 36.
The three-day event saw young student athletes turn in impressive performances in their respective disciplines, with Guyana’s athletics team stealing the limelight with their many gold medal exploits, among them Tianna Springer, Ezekiel Newton, and Javon Roberts living up to their billing as the next best on the track.
Meanwhile, at the closing ceremony, Guyana’s Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, delivered brief remarks that held big implications. Ninvalle maintained, “There are no losers here. Those who have won are usually called the winners, but the defeated are also winners because you have won the experience that will allow you to come back better next year than you were this year.”
The host nation also came in for kudos from the Director of Sport. “I really want to thank Suriname for being generous hosts. It was the determination that helped make this event a reality. Thanks to the government and the Sports Ministry, we were able to have this wonderful event. Thanks to the entire team for making it possible.”
Ninvalle concluded with a warning, stating, “Come 2024, watch out; we will be better represented.”
