The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/National Sport Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council of Region #4 successfully hosted a Day of Interaction on November 2 at the Diamond Community Centre Ground and the Grove Playfield on the East Bank Demerara.
This event was the third in a series of interactive community sessions planned and organized by the NSC.
The event attracted hundreds of participants from East Bank Demerara with participants coming from villages such as Mocha, Peter’s Hall, Friendship, Prospect and Diamond to name a few.
The sheer number of participants prompted the event to be simultaneously hosted at the two venues.
The activity, held under the theme ‘Unity through Sports’ was part of the NSC’s programme to actively engage communities across the country to highlight the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle, to promote a spirit of peace, unity and cooperation among communities and to encourage communities to make use of the many grounds, fields and other sport facilities available to them.
On hand for the event were Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of Sports Mr. Neil Kumar, People’s National Congress Member of Parliament Mr. Ernest Elliot and Chairman of the Grove/Diamond Local Authority Mr. Omar Khan.
Minister Anthony expressed his appreciation for the turnout which his seen as an indication of the interest of the communities in the development of not only sports but living a healthy lifestyle.
There were more than one hundred (100) players, representing the various communities in football at both junior and senior levels, who had to be transported to the Grove Playfield to participate in the football aspect of the day’s events. The finals of this competition saw Mocha B recording a 1-0 victory over Mocha A in the senior competition while special invitees Pouderoyen prevailed 1-0 over Grove in the junior competition.
Seven cricket teams competed for the winners’ title. The semi-finals saw Providence (which posted a score of 55 runs) defeating Meadow Bank who could only muster 29 runs. In the second semi-final, Diamond prevailed over New Scheme Diamond to earn a spot in the finals. In the final, Providence proved to be the better strategists with excellent field placing supported by spectacular team work as they dismantled Diamond for 33 runs with 5 batsmen going by the run out route. Providence won by seven wickets.
The Volleyball competition was won by Providence who proved their superiority by defeating the Grove team with a win in the first two matches in the best of three final.
In circle tennis, Talento Circle Tennis Team left with the status of being the top circle tennis team on show.
Indoor games played were domino and table tennis. The final of the domino competition was contested among Diamond Scheme, NDS Boys, and Diamond Stars. Diamond Scheme was rewarded for ending at the top of the table with 49 games, NDS Boys had 36 games and Diamond Stars 33 games.
Table tennis players benefited from the expertise of the Chinese coaches who conducted a two hour clinic.
Minister Anthony presented trophies to the winning football and cricket teams. National table tennis coach Linden Johnson distributed tokens of appreciation to those who participated in the table tennis clinic while National Sports Commission staffers Lavern Fraser Thomas and Wilton Spencer distributed trophies to the winners of the volleyball and domino competition respectively.
Communities in Region 2 will benefit from this activity on November 23, 2008 when it will be hosted at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.
