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Guyana signs agreement to host CACSO Rugby Games
Event to promote game as mainstream spectator sport
By Edison Jefford
IRB Director of Technical Information, Professor Luis Padovani (right) holds up the CACSO Agreement after attaching his signature to the document. From left IRB General Manager, Tom Jones, Keith Joseph and GOA President, Juman Yasin share the historic moment.
The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) signed an agreement yesterday with the Central American and Caribbean Sport Organisation (CACSO) to host the region’s Rugby Games from July 24-25 next year at the National Stadium.
The signing of the agreement took place in the conference room of the National Stadium at Providence, E.B.D where members from the necessary regional and international sub-associations for Rugby adeptly addressed the media.
Guyana’s hosting of the prominent tournament is expected to pilot the sport into the more mainstream of sporting activities. The Central American and Caribbean Games guarantee the participation of the eight best teams in the region.
The agreement was a joint treaty between CACSO, GOA, North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) and the International Rugby Board (IRB), notwithstanding the overwhelming support from the Guyana Government.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in the presence of IRB General Manager, Tom Jones and its Director of Technical Information, Professor Luis Padovani, said that the event has the full support of his ministry.
“We as a country would like to be part of Rugby’s history. I know it is a very unpopular spectator sport but I am confident that it would be [properly] promoted around Guyana,” Anthony told a media audience yesterday afternoon.
The minister said that the Government is delighted to be in partnership with the GOA and Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) in hosting the Games. He indicated that the GOA already has a Local Organising Committee in place.
Anthony continued to dismiss criticism that the National Stadium at Providence would be a ‘white elephant’, when he said that the venue maintains it standards and continues to be awarded the opportunity to host international sport.
Anthony’s belief was well supported when a member of Technical Committee of CACSO Keith Joseph stated that the “facilities [at the National Stadium] are excellent. It is one of the best [in the Caribbean] that players will get to play on”.
Another voice was added to that sentiment when GOA President, Juman Yasin indicated that he is and continues to be one of the proponents of the National Stadium and was very happy when Government built the impressive structure.
“I told all my friends that I was happy [when the stadium was built]. I went to the bowels of the Providence Stadium and I was impressed,” Yasin said, adding that Anthony is one of the pillars of commitment to sport in Guyana.
Noel Adonis was identified as one of the architects of Guyana’s bid to host the esteemed tournament. The GRFU President received valuable support from the local administration and NACRA President, Kit Nascimento in the effort.
Nascimento indicated that the dimension of the field at the National Stadium is sufficient to fit a rugby field. He said that the measurement technically and precisely coincide with IRB required international standards for the sport.
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