Hundreds of bicycle riders came out in their numbers for yesterday’s “Big Ride” from the University of Guyana Public Road, Turkeyen, to the Carifesta Sports Complex. The Big Ride, the second annual fitness event of its kind, was staged by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Guyana Cycling Federation.
The riders included Guyanese from all walks of life and among the assortment of people were residents of villages, members of sports clubs, of private and public sector organizations and school children. Even the tots were not excluded from the fun.
Organisers of the event said that ride was a means of participants demonstrating and celebrating their physical fitness while at the same time promoting a lifestyle of exercise as a means of maintaining sound health in body and mind.
At an earlier press conference, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, had explained that the event is a component of a programme being run by the Ministry entitled “Fit for Life.” He said “We want to use Big Ride to demonstrate the beneficial effects of physical exercise on health; to get all Guyanese, young and old, to understand that they must exercise if they want to live a good and healthy life.”
At the prize giving ceremony after, the Ministry awarded prizes to the village with the most riders, the organization with the most riders, the best uniformed group, the largest youth group and the Government Ministry that brought out the most riders.
The theme of the event this year was “Ride on, Live Long”.