Guyana’s contingent of officials and athletes were greeted with smiles and handshakes upon arrival here yesterday in Paramaribo, Suriname for the second leg of the XX Inter Guiana Games (IGG) after a tiring 12-hour overland journey.
Despite the warm welcome at the Stardust Hotel, the cream of the nation’s under-19 badminton, chess and volleyball players along with cyclists and racquet wielders invaded these shores focused on upstaging their Surinamese and French Guianese counterparts when the rivalry starts today.
From the courts to the open roads, several venues will be buzzing with activities when the
visiting sportsmen and women tackle the hosts and the French in five disciplines.
Following the opening ceremony at the Ismay van Wilgen Sporthal at 16:00 hrs, the local women’s volleyball team will take on their French rivals at 17:00 hrs.
The local men will then take the court against the hosts at 19:00 hrs.
Tomorrow, cycling will start things off with time trials from 08:00 hrs.
Chess will be played at 10:00 hrs at the Stardust Hotel simultaneously with table tennis and badminton at the Table Tennis Centre Zinniastraat and the Chinese Sporthal respectively.
Volleyball action continues at the Ismay van Wilgen Sporthal from 17:00 hrs.
On Sunday, the men’s and women’s road races will be held along with the finals of chess, table tennis, badminton and volleyball.
The closing ceremony will follow at 20:00 hrs at the Ismay van Wilgen Sporthal.
The visiting contingent comprises 35 officials, five badminton players, six cyclists, four chess and table tennis players and 24 volleyball players (12 male, 12 female).
Upon arrival, Director of Sport, Neil Kumar told Stabroek Sport that he is “Happy with the accommodation as well as the sporting venues.”
Kumar added that he is also satisfied with the efforts of the hosts and implored the locals, “To put your best foot forward for each discipline.”
In the first leg in August, hosts Guyana won at track and field, played second fiddle in the basketball segment and placed third in swimming.
The aim of the games is to create possibilities for youths to come together and compete in different sport disciplines, focusing on better sport results and better understanding of each other’s culture.
Guyana’s contingent will head back home on Monday.
