Guyana is set to host the biennial South American Junior Championships in June at the National Track and Field Centre.
This is according to President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson who sent out a short release following the South American Athletics Confederation (CONSUDATLE) Congress which concluded on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Hutson wrote “The Athletics Association of Guyana was given the rights to host the South American U20 championship at the Leonora Stadium on June 3rd and 4th 2017. This confirmation came at the CONSUDATLE Congress being held in Sao Paulo Brazil. Members of the South American competition committee will be visiting Guyana shortly to inspect and assist in the preparation of the championship.”
Guyana succeeded in hosting the event which will cost in the neighborhood of $US60, 000 after the initial host, Bolivia, pulled out of staging the U-20 event due to reasons beyond their control.
Half of the funding for the 11-nation event will be acquired from the IAAF.
Guyana has won eight medals (three gold, one silver, and 4 bronze) at the fixture which started in 1959. Brazil leads the table with 1591, followed by Argentina (746) and Chile (608).
The competition was first held in 1959 in Buenos Aires. It was an annual event from its inaugural year until 1962, at which point it was held every two years. The championships became an annual event again over the period between 1983 and 2003 but reverted to a biennial format from then onwards.
