National Schools’ C/ships officially opens

Nov 10, 2010 Sports

– Sampson beaten, Rupununi enjoy good start

Despite a late start that forced President Bharrat Jagdeo to abort his scheduled presentation at the National Schools’ Championships Opening Ceremony yesterday, the on-field action in the events that were run off last night did not fail to disappoint.
A logistics error that was as a result of Districts’ transportation from the Castellani Pool, the site of the Swimming Championships, to the National Stadium, forced a late start to the event that had been scheduled to begin at 3pm at the international venue.
However, when the event did get underway, it became clear with the pomp and hype surrounding the Schools’ Championships that the 2010 rivalry for the coveted ‘Champion District’ title was the main focus following the formalities of the opening.
Before Jevina Sampson sunk to a surprising defeat in the female 1500m Under-14 race, an event she was expected to win, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony had indicated that his hope is that the event live up to all expectations.
“I expect the Championships will fulfil all expectations. We in the ministry look forward to be in the forefront of the development of sports in schools. We are looking at a number of areas where we can develop these ideas,” Anthony told those present.
The National Schools’ Championships is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union. A Management Committee made up of officials from both factions is responsible for the overall management of the event.
The Opening Ceremony followed the cycle road races and road run early yesterday morning and the Swimming Championships. It was the official moment for all Districts to be ushered into the competition mode for one of the most illustrious local titles.
As Districts followed each other into the National Stadium for the March Past to the music of the National Steel Orchestra and officials from all major stakeholders gather, what dominated was an intentional attempt to make the event larger than ever.
“This close association and collaboration will help our sports in schools develop at another level. As we look toward the future, this relationship is indeed a healthy one,” Anthony continued with his presentation in front of the Presidential Suite.
Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh acknowledged that there has been such collaborative efforts to help develop well rounded student-athletes and that much more work is to be done to forge the idea ahead as the Schools’ Championships reach 50 years.
“We have been doing a lot at the academic level to support the Physical Education programme in schools. Guyana has a 98 percent pass rate in Physical Education at the Caribbean Examination Council and that is great in the Caribbean,” Baksh indicated.
He said that the ministry chose to move in that direction because he realises that the need for all athletes to be educated have increased. “We know that not only academics are important but the athletics component as well in our programmes,” he said.
President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Colin Bynoe reiterated his earlier position that in his view the Schools’ Championships have reached a stage for mammoth branding that will come of age with consistent and permanent corporate support for the event.
He singled out Digicel, Banks DIH and DDL for coming on board in ways that they have. He is of the view that that was a good start and if continued, the National Championships could evolve into something beyond the imagination of stakeholders.
He thanked those sponsors and the Management Committee for their hard work in pulling off the mega sport event and hoped that it continues to grow. He also mentioned the support the schools’ contest got from the United Kingdom with water bottles.
Following the speeches, the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Department and Local Organising Committee for the Championships conducted a cultural presentation before a few steamy battles on-field with Sampson’s relegation headlining those rivalries.
Rupununi’s Jemma Pedro stunned emerging star athlete, who represented Guyana at the Youth Olympics in Singapore this summer, Sampson in the U-14 Girls’ 1500m. Official times for the top three places were not available up to press time.
Upper Demerara were declared winners of the March Past contest while Corentyne was adjudged second with Bartica third.

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