The National Sports Commission (NSC) has received the green light from Cabinet for financing Guyana’s participation in the 2010 Inter-Guiana Games.

Director of Sports Neil Kumar told Stabroek Sport on Thursday that the date set for the first leg of this year’s games in Cayenne was March 26-28.

French Guiana, Guyana, and the defending overall champions Suriname will battle in swimming, football and athletics in male and female categories.

Already the NSC has conducted meetings with the concerned associations and outlined the areas that they will need to work on and the selection process for the teams.

Last year, the first leg of the games was hosted in Guyana where the Dutch-speaking nation took home both the male and female football championships.

They also dominated at swimming while Guyana won the track and field event.

Last year marked the entry into the games of female soccer with the local team losing all their matches by wide margins.

“I am very comfortable on this occasion with our relationship with the GFF (Guyana Football Federation) because we will be working very closely with both the male and female team. They already have their women’s programme going and they will have the data base of players who are of age to play in the IGG. So I think this year we will be very competitive and I’ve said to them that we will provide whatever assistance needed in making sure we are properly represented,” Kumar stated.

In athletics where Guyana are the defending champions, Kumar noted that already there was collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) who will very soon be mobilizing the athletes.

“At the standing committee we have a close relationship with the athletics association as well as the swimming association where they will be responsible for preparing the team. I am hoping we can retain our title in track and field.

“I’m not saying that we will beat Suriname and French Guyana in swimming, but I’m certain that we will put the proper systems in place to make sure we are properly represented,” the Director of Sports said.

The large contingent of athletes and officials will depart Guyana on March 24 for the French-speaking country but will overnight in Suriname the same day.

On returning home, the contingent will again overnight in Surname and arrive in Guyana on March 30.

“I want to say that so far, the Guyana consulate in Suriname has been very helpful in the process of us spending the two nights in Suriname because they will be taking care of that for us,” Kumar noted.

The last time a leg of the tri-nation goodwill event was held in French Guiana was in 2007 but Guyana did not attend because of the hosting of Cricket World Cup.

That year, Guyana hosted the last leg in basketball, volleyball and cycling. In 2008, the first stage was held in Suriname and the return leg in French Guiana but unrest in the country caused a cancellation of the event.

Guyana will host the second leg of the 2010 games.