Prime Minister and acting President of Guyana, Samuel Hinds officially declared the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) open yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, following an opening ceremony with a march-past of athletes and officials from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
In addition to the local and overseas participating delegations, a number of government officials were present at the opening ceremony, including Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Conrad Plummer, along with the Heads of the Suriname and French Guiana delegations.
In delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Hinds acknowledged the efforts of those who have worked rigorously to “put together the Games.”
He said that the IGG provides essential contact between youths of the three participating territories and form the basis for better relations among neighbours in the region.
“We see these Games as a way to strengthen relations between Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana… we should develop more contact between these neighbours,” said Hinds.
He noted that the Games have grown over the years and he hopes that future cooperation between the countries will see the games continuing to progress in the future.
“It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game and if you do your best,” Hinds said as he offered a few words of encouragement to the teams, urging them to put their best foot forward and strive to take the Games to an even higher standard.
Anthony in his remarks reiterated that the Games contribute to the countries forming better relations.
“Sport is often an opportunity to develop relationships between countries and these Games have a long history of tying the countries closer,” said Anthony.
In addition, he lauded the persons who had worked hard to ensure the Games would be a success and emphasized that those participating and supporting the Games “will see the results of the hard work.”
“I am confident that with the type of hard work that was done for the Games, we will see the games go on with little problems,” Anthony added.
Suriname’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Paulus Abena was also present and spoke on behalf of the Surinamese delegation. Abena told the youths that although they are striving to be the best in their respective sporting disciplines they should also “play fair.”
“The Games are an example of peaceful unity through sports and the benefits of sports… you are here to represent your country in the best way possible, so do it with respect… play hard but yet play fair,” said Abena.
And Executive within French Guiana’s Ministry of Education, Florence Robine in her address as the representative of French Guiana’s delegation said that the IGG is a project of international cooperation, which is strongly approved by the French and she wished all the athletes good luck.
