GUYANA was declared the winning country of the first stage of the Inter-Guiana Games late Sunday evening at the closing ceremony which was held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue.Contesting against teams from Suriname, and French Guiana, at the multisport event, Guyana finished first in athletics, second in basketball and third in swimming, to take the overall title.

Second place went to Suriname, who finished first in swimming and second in athletics. In basketball Suriname finished first for the boys and third on the girls side. French Guiana, who only participated in the swimming and the basketball segments of the Games, finished third.
The Games, which began last Friday, was officially declared closed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, who stood in for Minister Dr Frank Anthony who was unavoidably absent from the event.
The closing ceremony was chaired by Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who commended the organising committee for their hosting of a successful stage of the two-stage event.
Kumar emphasised the return of the French Guiana to the Games, after the country was absent when the annual event was held last year.
“I would like to say special thanks to the hardworking organising committee here in Guyana, that put together this successful programme. This first stage of the Inter-Guiana Games was indeed a success. It was highly successful because we got all three countries participating in the games, I want to say to French Guiana once again, thank you for participating this year.” Kumar said.
Sharing Kumar’s sentiments on the successful hosting of the Games was Suriname’s Director of Sports, Ismanto Tiana, who noted that the next stage of the Games will be held in Suriname.
Tiana reminded the athletes that the IGG plays an important part in developing their athletic talents; for being a world standard athlete begins with being a national athlete.
“No matter what your target is, you can only reach it step by step, so you got to make sure that in your own country first, you are the best. If you are the best in your own country then you can (be the best) in the region, when you reach (the best) in the region then you can be (the best) in the world. So the Inter-Guiana Games is a step in showing that you can compete in the region before you compete in the world. I can tell you that the future of the Inter-Guiana Games looks good.” Tiana said.
Also making remarks at the event was a representative of French Guiana who, speaking through a translator, also commended the hosting of the Games and noted the level of togetherness that the Games has been fostering among the three countries.