… GDF to defend 10K Team run
THE Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will host its annual Olympic Day Run on Sunday, which, according to its president KA Juman-Yassin, will officially mark the road to the London 2012 games. The run is held in observance of ‘International Olympic Day’ and is expected to be attended by athletes and non-athletes starting at 06:30hrs outside of the YMCA building at Thomas Lands.
At a press conference hosted yesterday, Yassin said that the event is not a race, but “more of walk/run for persons 10 years and older and we will be giving away free T-shirts to the participants as well, but it will be on a first come,, first serve basis, based on registration”
The GOA boss said that registration forms can be uplifted at the GOA office (Olympic House) 76 High Street, Kingston.
“Olympic Day is celebrated around the world in June and we (GOA) have chosen June 26 to celebrate that day in Guyana.
However, we would have a number of events during this week as well to mark the day. There will be badminton, cycling at the National Park, which will be organised by Hassan Mohamed, weightlifting and swimming, but that is yet to be confirmed. There is also the Olympic Day walk/jog,” Yassin said.
He added that “the shirts are being sponsored by the British High Commission and we wish to thank them very much for that. Certificates by the IOC will also be given to all participants and we have also asked the Presidential candidates for this year’s general elections, to come out and be part of this event and so far Mr Ramotar (Donald) of the PPP Party has signalled his intention to participate.”
The move to have the Presidential candidates participate is described by Yassin, as “leading by example and showing that they too are health conscious and would also play a part in our drive to the Olympics next year.”
Meanwhile, a top prize of $60 000 will be up for grabs in the 10K team run which Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) president Colin Boyce says will be very competitive.
The event run is open to clubs/schools with groups comprising no less/more than six persons (two females, four males) who must all complete the course.
Boyce explained the time each athlete takes to cross the finish line will be tabulated and the team that accumulates the least would be adjudged the winner.
National distance athlete and CAC medallist Cleveland Forde will be in Guyana to help boost the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) chances of retaining the title while new-found nemesis Dennis Horatio will look to guide the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to a better placing than third place where they finished last year.
The runners-up will pocket $40,000 while third-placers will take home $30 000.