THE Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Male U-16 Championships opened Sunday night in the presence of an almost packed to capacity Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) crowd. The ceremony featured not only served to introduce the teams, but also to display a bit of Guyanese culture to foreigners and locals alike. It was Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine who was tasked with the Master of Ceremonies role for the night.
The teams, spectators and officials, were all given a taste of Guyanese culture through steel pan renditions from Parkside Steel Orchestra, dance displays by Lodge Secondary and drumming from Fusion Tassa Drummers.
The teams then had a march past, in which, of course, the Guyana team came last, much to the cheering delight of the crowd.
The crowd was then introduced to the Minister of Education, Culture Youth & Sport Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, CBC president Glyne Clarke.
CBC vice-president Marketing and Finance Patrick Haynes, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation vice-president Kenrick Thomas, National Sports Commission chairman Ivan Persaud and Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation president Nigel Hinds were also introduced.
Myra Hoppie then performed the National Anthem of Guyana followed by the eruption of the CASH crowd.
Hinds then thanked the audience and Caribbean for being a part of the games, adding that this tournament was a stepping-stone for sport in Guyana.
Dr Roopnaraine declared the championships open after giving a brief history of basketball in Guyana and speaking about his plans for sport in schools.