Risen from the ashes of two years of COVID-19, the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships returned with a bang to a familiar venue yesterday.
Amid rhythmic and entertaining singing and dancing performances, the return of the annual showpiece at the renowned National Track and Field Centre was ushered in by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, President of the Guyana Teachers Union, Mark Lyte and several other dignitaries.
Off to a fast start, the nation’s best student athletes and teachers are vying for medals and bragging rights in the various disciplines in the first ‘Nationals’ since 2019.
District 10 lit the Games Torch to usher in the start
of the 60th edition of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships. (Emmerson Campbell photo)
In excess of 1500 athletes and teachers from the 15 districts will converge on the various host venues for the 60th edition of the nation’s largest school sports event.
The annual six-day meeting which has fostered several of Guyana’s top athletes, was welcomed back by Phillips during the opening ceremony. “I take this return as a sense of achievement. I know over the past few years you were eager to be back at Nationals competing and now you (the athletes and teachers) are here. I need you all to give yourselves a round of applause for being here. You had to be disciplined and honed your skills to be here today.”
The Prime Minister added “I was sitting here reminiscing when I tried to make it to Nationals 46 years ago and I can tell you that we have come a long way. I want to reassure you that the government recognizes that sports are important for the development of youths in Guyana and we will continue to support you to go further.” According to the Prime Minster who declared the Championships open, the government intends to construct six multi-sport facilities in six Regions across Guyana. Phillips stated that he expects keen but friendly rivalry and charged the athletes to put their best efforts forward in an effort to dethrone holders, District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani).
Notes: Following the 59th edition of the Championship in 2019, District 10 earned their fifth consecutive overall title to take their total wins to an impressive 18 overall.
During the opening ceremony, remarks were also made by Minister Manickchand, Lyte and Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson. (Emmerson Campbell)
