The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) on Thursday in collaboration with the Guyana Softball League and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, launched a 10/10 countrywide softball tournament.
The tournament, which is set to bowl off on February 6 and conclude on March 21, was said to be the most lucrative of its type in the history of softball cricket in Guyana.
According to the three organizations, the event is aimed at fostering community involvement in sports and culture.
Registration for the tournament is free and will begin from today with forms being published in the Guyana Times newspaper, one of several corporate entities on board.
Other corporate sponsors of the event include Impressions, Cellphone Shack, Gizmos and Gadgets and Survival.
The closing date for registration will be January 25 and over $5M in cash and prizes will be up for grabs.
The winning team will receive a million dollars while the runners-up will take home $250,000.
It was disclosed that teams stand to be financially rewarded from the round of 16 where teams will receive $10,000 while those reaching the quarter finals will pocket $20,000.
The semi-finalists will take home $50,000 and this GT&T’s marketing manager Wystan Robertson said, was to encourage the participants and make sure that the highest level of play was maintained throughout the event.
“This is the first year of this event and I know that as time passes, it will get bigger and bigger with more money being thrown into it and we stand committed to make sure it comes out successful,” Robertson said.
GT&T, along with the other sponsors, will also be giving away prizes to the spectators with the prizes getting more attractive as the tournament progresses.
“This is to make sure that not only (the) players have something to look forward to since we want to get the fans involved as much as possible,” Robertson.
It was disclosed that a party-style atmosphere will be created for the tournament.
When asked if the tournament will be taking a pattern from the famous Stanford 20/20 regional cricket tournament Robertson was quick to respond with a chuckle “No!”
“You see, this is not like a Stanford because we want to create our own little thing which we hope will go on to be something people look forward to around the country in various communities you know, so no man, this is not and will not be like a Stanford,” Robertson disclosed.
The tournament came in for high praises from Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, who said that he was happy that GT&T and the other sponsors were leading the way for community sports which they have taken to very large scale.
He also assured his ministry’s fullest support for the event.
According to Dr. Anthony his ministry was “paying a keen interest in sports development and focusing on getting the community involved.
“You know, this year we will be paying a lot of emphasis on community sports and development so this will be a fresh start and we know that it will be very well received,” Dr. Anthony added.
Representatives from other sponsors who have formed an alliance with GT&T to stage the event have all expressed their delight in being part of the tournament and have concluded that it will be one of the largest sporting events ever held in Guyana.
