THE Synthetic Track and Field Facility at Leonora, an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Class II Certified venue, will be officially opened today with a gala ceremony from 10:00hrs. President Donald Ramotar will commission the facility; the first of its kind in Guyana and some of Guyana’s best athletes will be on show according to the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).

AAG president Aubrey Hutson, speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, said that today’s event will start after the formal speeches, with the women’s 100m, triple jump, 100m men’s, long jump, 1500m male, and the male and female 400m in that order.
“We tried to make sure that everyone is featured,” according to the AAG president Hutson who added, “for example, we’ll have Cleveland Forde in the 1500m and he’s more known for his dominance in the 5 000m. Cassey George will run in the 800 though that’s not her event exactly and Jason Yaw in the 400m. We want them all on show actually.”
“I’m comfortable,” Hutson pointed out, speaking of the facility, “the track looks good but we honestly just can’t wait to see the opening come and go so that we can plan our events for it.”
The ceremony today will hear speeches from Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, representatives from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) – since it also holds a football pitch – and representatives from the AAG.
Kumar had described today’s event as “historical” during a recent interview with this publication, adding, “We are proud to know that we could have built this world class state-of-the-art track, where everything was done professionally.”

With the facility, Guyana can now bid to host regional and international track and field events; something Hutson had stated the AAG is anxious about.
While today is not a public event, only seeing attendance by schools on the West Demerara area, athletics fans will have a chance when the AAG hosts its Senior Championships on May 7.
The over US$5M facility, apart from the football pitch and track, has two stands, each with a capacity to seat 1 500 people.
The athletics track, according to the Government of Guyana, adds to a growing list of investment initiatives in sports in Guyana – the Guyana National Stadium at Providence; the Albion Sports Complex, refurbished and fitted with floodlights, the Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal, the Squash Court and Lawn Tennis Court.

By Rawle Toney