Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds formally declared the XX Inter Guiana Games (IGG) opened yesterday following a colourful ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
Hinds spoke of the bond of sport which has united the host, Suriname and French Guiana and noted that “he looks forward to a close relationship for years to come.”
“We look forward to a close relationship for years to come and it’s important that each athlete goes out there to win.
But we must compete fairly and it gives me great pleasure to declare the 2014 Inter Guiana Games open”.
The Prime Minister then welcomed the delegation from the two visiting countries and wished the Games a success.
Brief remarks were also made by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sport, Alfred King, heads of the Suriname and French Guiana delegations along with Director of Sport, Neil Kumar.
The Guyana Police Force band also added to the start of the tri-nation event.
While the visitors had a rousing welcome, the host contingent, dressed in the traditional attire and walking under the Golden Arrow Head, understandably got a deafening reception.
The first of three legs of the annual competition started yesterday with two basketball games following the opening ceremony.
In the first encounter, the female French ballers routed their Surinamese opponents 62-41. However, their male countrymen were defeated by Guyana, 79-68.
Swimming will be held today at the National Aquatic Centre from 09:00hrs.
The Games which concludes tomorrow with the closing ceremony at the CASH, will also see the nation’s best track and field athletes competing for hardware today and tomorrow at the Camp Ayangana ground simultaneously with Swimming.
The second and third legs of the annual fixture is set for Suriname in October and French Guiana in November or December.
