THE current global pandemic has forced another sporting event to be cancelled, here, in Guyana. The much anticipated trilogy of athletic events, organised and run by former Guyanese athletes and friends as part of the country’s Independence celebrations, is the latest victim of COVID-19.

According to chief organiser of the Plaisance-oriented one-day event which started in 2016, “While we cannot deny our disappointment, it is something we have no control over and as such we can only look forward to its return next year.”

The 1972 National Schools’ 100m and 200m sprint champion, Noel ‘Bryner’ Campbell, via ‘WhatsApp’ to Chronicle Sport from New York, explained that the emphasis of the event since the inception has been on the youths and that he and his team have been encouraged by the increasing interest and participation.

“In 2016 we started out with the 5K for juniors and 10K for seniors on the road and then in 2018 we added the relays for male and female athletes. Last year we introduced the Village Mile for students living, born and/or raised in Plaisance.

“On the advice of the Minister of Sport we have changed the name to the Plaisance-Sparendaam Golden Mile”, the former born-and-bred athlete from Plaisance, ‘Bryner’, stated.

The event was scheduled to take place yesterday (Saturday, May 23) and now the attention is on planning for a grand occasion next year.

(Ras Wadada)