IN celebration of Indigenous Heritage Month, cell-phone giant Digicel Guyana on Wednesday handed over a cheque for $800,000 to representatives of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs for the sponsorship of the Day of Sports.This year, the event will include swimming and archery for the first time.

The handing-over ceremony took place at Digicel Guyana headquarters at Fort and Barrack Streets, Kingston.

Company Communications Manager, Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara told reporters at the ceremony that for the past seven years, Digicel has been sponsoring the event, slated this year for September 18-20, 2015.

She added that they have presented a cheque and are on board with the month of activities planned to observe Amerindian Heritage Month as well as provide cutting edge cell phone service to far-flung hinterland communities.

Bijlall-Sanichara told the gathering that they will continue to do their part in supporting and giving back to the indigenous peoples.

In addition to the company’s annual contributions for Indigenous Heritage Month, they will be giving back to the indigenous peoples by enhancing the lives of children in many Amerindian villages through a community project in hinterland schools.

Project Officer/Sports Coordinator of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, Besham Ramsaywack said that he is grateful to Digicel for their support in which they have added swimming and archery this year for the Day of Sports in which 500 athletes from the 10 administrative regions will participate.

He said last year Region 9 won the football competition and this year there are other games as well for both children and adults such as cricket, volleyball, tug-o-war and a piwarie drinking competition.

Ramsaywack stated that the Day of Sports is a family-oriented event and this year it is slated to be bigger and better as well.

Coordinator of swimming and archery, Ivan Persaud said it was with a sense of pride that he was expressing gratitude to Digicel for lending a helping hand to the Indigenous Heritage celebrations by solely sponsoring the Day of Sports.

He said that they have to get more than 500 athletes to the city to participate in the games which is quite costly and they need to offset expenses, among other things.

Persaud pointed out that about 65 officials such as scorers, referees, organisers and others will be there to assist in managing the games and that is an added cost. He added that they had difficulty getting sponsorship in the past but with Digicel they can pull off the activity smoothly.

Meanwhile, Elke Rodrigues, Assistant Coordinator for the Indigenous Heritage Day of Sports said she was pleased that swimming will be a part of the games since she is very passionate about the sport.

Also present was sponsorship and events manager, Louanna Abrams.