… says Director of Sport
AS the days wind down to the commencement of the first leg of the 2009 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) all assurance has been given that Guyana is fully capable and well prepared to host the prestigious event which gets under way this weekend.

According to Director of Sport Neil Kumar, over the past few days the standing committee for the games has been meeting daily to intricately sieve through those details of pertinent concern and to ensure that all systems are in place for the event.

“We are fully prepared for the Guyana leg of the IGG,” he boasted.

Local representation at the games also seems to be on stream as the teams for the various disciplines comprise top Guyanese sportsmen and women who have been vigorously preparing for this weekend’s competition.

Guyana was dominant in track and field last year and a number of the athletes on the local team have recently returned from a successful showing at the Carifta Games.

“All teams have been selected,” said Kumar, who added that Keith French has been named General Manager while Dr Karen Pilgrim and Gervy Harry will respectively function as Deputy Manager and Coordinator.

The teams from Suriname and French Guiana will be arriving in Guyana on Thursday at Moleson Creek, Berbice, and will stay at the Ocean View Hotel.

Transportation, meals and medical care will all be provided for the visitors.

Kumar also said that a technical and administrative meeting will be held at the Ocean View Hotel at 18:00 h on Thursday.

The opening ceremony will be staged at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, on Friday and will be attended by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who will declare the Games open, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony.

He once again boasted that the venues earmarked for use over the duration of the games are up to competition standard and have been fully groomed and equipped for the respective events.

The two days of athletics will be held at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, with the swimming taking place at the Castellani Pool.

The GDF ground will be the venue for the three days of football with matches scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and competition starts at 14:00 h with two matches taking place daily.

“I wish to thank the Commissioner of Police and the Army and also the Office of the President for making the venues available for use,” said the Director of Sport, who with excitement and pride added “there will be a surprise which Guyanese and the entire sporting fraternity will be proud of.”

The event wraps up on Sunday when the curtain will officially come down on the Guyana leg of the games with a closing ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.