– largest ever investment to event
The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, has seen fit to make their largest ever investment into sports, handing over a whopping $7 million towards the Aliann Pompey Invitational (API) scheduled for Saturday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
This edition is included as part of the World Athletics Continental Tour and will give international athletes a final window for direct qualification to the Paris Olympic Games, with the cut-off date for qualification set for June 30.
At the handover of the sponsorship. Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr pointed out that the prestigious event aligns with President Irfaan Ali’s ambitions of Guyana emerging as a host for premier international sports events.
Ramson made mention of the significance of the large sum handed over, explaining that it signals the intent of the government in supporting the event. The sponsorship is the largest since the event’s inception in 2016.
The minister also revealed that the main aim of his ministry is to help sustain and develop Guyana’s only international track and field meet.
Apart from the financial sponsorship, the National Sports Commission will also play its part by providing assistance in other logistical areas of the championship.
Meanwhile, Pompey, after thanking Minister Ramson and the government, stated, “The overarching theme for this year’s edition of the competition is legacy… we see that played out in different areas.”
“The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport has committed in a big way to the success of the meet, not just this year but several to come. The Honourable Minister has expressed the importance on building on the foundation year by year and knows that it means commitment over a period of time,” Pompey noted.
Continuing along the same vein, she said the minister’s input “is significant to the longevity of the competition and to the sport. All this trickles down to our athletes, and we’ll continue to see significant development. We thank him for his support.”
Before the event on Saturday, a press conference is slated for Friday in the boardroom of the Ministry of Sport’s headquarters on Main Street, Georgetown, where further details pertinent to the event will be provided.
