MINISTER of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine emphasised the great role that sport plays in breaking social barriers during the speech he made just before declaring the Inter-Guiana ‘Goodwill’ Games officially open last evening at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.Before an audience of Guyanese and Surinamese athletes and officials Minister Roopnaraine said that sport provides a great avenue for people to look beyond the social boundaries,

especially racial ones, and focus more on the abilities that persons possess.“I can think of nothing better than sports to deal with our ethnic issue, ethnic division and such things. You know when you are on a cricket team or a soccer team you don’t look to see who is of what race, you look to see how well he can defend his position, how well he can bat, bowl and those issues. So sport remains a major area in which we can deal with ethnic issues and ethnic difficulties.” Roopnaraine said.
Also making remarks at the ceremony was Suriname’s Director of Sports, Luciano Mentowikromo, who started off by commending the Department of Sports for the tremendous effort that has been put into hosting the event, with athletes from Suriname and Guyana taking part this year.
Mentowikromo also spoke of how the event works to bring the youths of the countries together in unity, and helps to develop themselves as athletes.

Usually called the Inter-Guiana Games and held among athletes from Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, the event goes without French Guiana this year. This follows no hosting of the Games last year.
During his speech Mentowikromo touched on his regret that French Guiana could not be here.
Nonetheless, Mentowikromo is convinced that this year’s hosting will be successful and will continue in the objectives of sportsmanship and fun. This year the athletes of the two countries will compete in seven sport disciplines, namely athletics, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, table tennis and futsal.

Following the brief opening ceremony the athletics competition began where Guyana bagged a number of wins.