THE 2023 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) will now take place from November 17th to 19th, as officially confirmed by the host nation, Suriname. This confirmation led to Guyana and French Guiana also confirming their participation.

Originally scheduled for October 26th to 31st, the historic event was postponed for several weeks due to financial challenges faced by the Surinamese administration. This situation, initially communicated by Suriname’s Director of Sport, Gordon Tjouw Ngie Touw, to his counterparts in Guyana and French Guiana, has been resolved. Suriname previously hosted the last edition in 2017 before a five-year hiatus.

An inspection of facilities and an official meeting among the sports directors of the participating nations will take place in Paramaribo on Thursday to finalize the logistical arrangements for the games.

The eight disciplines to be contested are chess, futsal, football, lawn tennis, swimming, basketball, volleyball, and athletics. Table tennis and badminton were removed from the initial list of ten sports due to scheduling conflicts with other international competitions during the same period.

Delegations are scheduled to arrive on November 16th and depart on November 20th. The National Sports Commission will hold a meeting with the representatives of the associations and administrators of the competing sports on Monday.

Steve Ninvalle, Guyana’s Director of Sport, welcomed the confirmation of the IGG, emphasizing its significance beyond competition as a unifying platform for culturally linked nations. He highlighted the government’s commitment to its development and social value, particularly in reviving the games after a five-year hiatus.

The IGG, first held in 1967, is traditionally an annual event. It was revived in 2022 after a five-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 400 athletes and coaches participating. The IGG not only showcases young athletes from the three countries but also serves as a cultural and educational platform, fostering unity, trust, and understanding among the people of the Guianas.