HAVING successfully organized the inaugural nationwide 10/10 softball tournament last year in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the Guyana Softball League (GSL), telecommunications giants Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) on  Saturday night  launched their second tournament with a gala reception at the Liliendaal Conference Centre. Brief remarks were delivered by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GT&T Yog Mahadeo, who told the audience, that included President Bharat Jagdeo, his company shared out $5m in prizes, while spending an additional $20m in expenses in last year’s tournament which was won by Trophy Stall XI who defeated Crabwood Creek (CWC) Unstoppables by 51 runs to walk away with the top prize of $ 1m and a trophy.
According to Mahadeo, this year’s tournament will have a double prize structure totalling $10m, being played in both the male and female categories. The male winner will cart off $2m in cash and a trophy, while the female champion will pocket $1m, even as the organizers expect to spend $30m on this year’s tournament.
“This year marks another special occasion for GT& T as we will usher in a new age of technological advancement, attesting to GT&T’s continued commitment to fulfilling its social role in Guyana,” related the CEO.
In that respect, he said that the entity is proud of its contribution to Guyana’s development, a cause to which GT& T takes a multi- faceted approach and with this year being their 20th year of providing service to the Guyanese public, softball was chosen as the medium for their message, because it serves for a complete integration of all Guyanese.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony expressed his pleasure that GT& T has yet again put together another grand event, following the skepticisms on whether such a huge tournament can really work in Guyana.
“When we started the tournament last year, there were a lot of skepticisms as to whether this would really pay off, but against all the odds and even the skeptics, the methodology used paid off and that’s why we are here today, to once again launch the tournament once again.”
Dr. Anthony further mentioned that softball is a favourite game in almost every street and community in Guyana, while adding you are not a Guyanese if you have not played softball cricket at some point of your life.
Dr. Anthony told the gathering that once sports is being played in communities it will eventually occupy the people living in that particular community, while also enhance positive attitude and enable those involved to live a healthy life.
The Minister said that this year’s tournament is already set to be even bigger with some 1,000 teams being targeted to participate, surpassing the number which contested last year’s tournament, and added that while it is not beyond the reach of the organizers, he is confident that the target will be met.
He lauded the organizers for introducing a female segment to this year’s competition and stressed the fact that the initiative complements the Ministry’s tireless plot to institute sports at the community level.
Managing Director of King’s Jewellery World, Looknauth Persaud, also, took the opportunity to present President Jagdeo with a one of a kind GT&T 10/10 ring, following the unveiling of this year’s championship trophy.
Interested teams can uplift their registration forms from a cut- out from the daily Stabroek News and drop them off at any GT& T’s business offices or any Guyana Softball League (GSL) representative, Auto Fashions or any Cell Phone Shack location.
As was the situation in last year’s tournament, registration for this year’s event which is being run under the auspices of the GSL, remains free of charge, with teams desirous of participating having until next Tuesday (January 25) to register, while the first ball is expected to be bowled on February 12th.
The 2010 tournament, which received participation from some 584 teams, has been deemed the biggest and most successful event ever to be staged locally, to date.