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Guyanese radiate IGG opening ceremony
– uniformity outstanding in Suriname
DISCPLINE!!! Guyana’s national IGG athletes stand behind four flag bearers at attention as the National Anthem is played at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall yesterday.
By Edison Jefford in Suriname
Compliments of Bryden and Fernandes, Warsila,
Fon-J Cycle Store and Kiskadee Day Care
If there were any feelings of self-doubt among the Guyanese contingent at the 2009 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), their uniformity, discipline and patriotism comfortably dispelled those emotions at the Games’ illustrious opening ceremony yesterday.
The enormous delegation from ‘The Land of Many Waters’ were among the outstanding features of the ceremony in their green and yellow uniforms when the New Experience Brass Band dance led them into the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Suriname.
The Guyanese followed the lead of four flag-bearers that represented the four sport disciplines to be contested in the second phase of this year’s Games. The mini-flags and smiles on the faces of the athletes were shown in extraordinary radiance.
“Since re-introducing the Games in 2006 there has been a lot of improvement in those technical aspects of the Games in all three countries,” Suriname’s Minister of Education and Community Development, Michael Jong Tjien Fa told the delegations.
“This has brought a lot of improvement in the relationship of the Guianas,” he continued, adding that the athletes should represent their countries with high standards and discipline. Jong Tjien Fa pleaded with Suriname to “keep home the gold (medals)”.
The IGG calendar event was suspended in 2001 because of some political internal difficulties of the Surinamese Government and communication with French Guiana. When the Games returned in 2006, Suriname won overall with Guyana third.
“The Suriname Government did not hesitate to be part of the re-introduction of IGG in 2006,” an enthused Chairman of the IGG Organising Committee and Permanent Secretary of Sport, Michael Watson said in his address at the opening ceremony.
“Whether you win or lose, ensure that you shake each other hands,” Watson encourage before he gave way to his Guyanese counter-part, Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony.
Kumar was succinct in his speech but congratulated the Organising Committee for the work they did in preparing for the Games. “The Surinamese have set high standards in preparation,” Kumar said while commending Team Guyana for their “discipline”.
The Surinamese Police and Army Band had participated in the hoisting of the three flags and the singing of the National Anthems before the speeches. The hype and aura of an annual benchmark competition were evident throughout the brief ceremony.
Guyana trails Suriname 38-28 points in the tri-nation competition overall with French Guiana on 24 points after Swimming, Football and Track and Field earlier this year. The three nations are in the hunt for points in Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball.
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