Guyana exceeded expectations in hosting CBC U16 Championships

Jul 15, 2016 Sports

The refurbished Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the CBC U16 Championships during a time-out of one of the girls’ games.

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) put the hosting of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Championships at Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall over the last two weeks into perspective, stating that Guyana has exceeded all expectations.
President of the GABF, Nigel Hinds, told Kaieteur Sport yesterday in an exclusive interview that with the support of the network of major stakeholders, Guyana was able to create a new blueprint for the hosting of future CBC Championships.
“This has been conveyed to us; I can state unequivocally that we have exceeded all expectations in hosting these Championships,” Hinds indicated, adding that the success of the event would not have been possible without the relevant stakeholder support.
In that regard, he pointed out that collectively the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), National Sports Commission, Government of Guyana and Private Sector played crucial roles in ensuring a landmark venue, especially, was available for the Championships.
“When we examined the facilities, namely the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, it became clear that it will take an extraordinary effort to bring the venue up to standard. We gave that effort, and what we had over the last two weeks was a venue that satisfied the mandatory things to be done in line with FIBA (International Basketball Association),” Hinds informed.
He said that the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was transformed and believes that it can be referred to as Guyana’s Jubilee Dome. He got the concept from the Millennium Dome in England. When then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair opened the Millennium Dome he said that it represents a “triumph of confidence over cynicism, boldness over blandness and excellence over mediocrity”.
Hinds related that he feels the same way about the new Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, which took a herculean effort to transform. He said the facilities there are “immaculate”, highlighting the new washrooms, locker rooms and court at the venue.
“I would like to take this opportunity to invite the public to see what we now have as a facility in Guyana. President David Granger, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Ministers of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Dr. Nicolette Henry, Finance Ministers, Winston Jordon and Jaipaul Sharma, Minister of Infrastructure, David Patterson, all played no small role in ensuring that we were ready to host these Championships,” he informed.
“They provided the platform for us to succeed,” Hinds added before singling out John Fernandes, Quality Seafoods Inc, Ansa McAl Limited, Banks DIH, E-Networks and Impressions for the work they did from the corporate perspective.
Impressions provided the facility with all the requisite branding while E-Networks carried games live on cable TV. Hinds indicated that as a result, Guyana showed that it has the capacity here to provide international services and host international events.
“I believe you must hire people who have talents beyond yours. In this regard, I want to thank the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the outstanding work. This led to a safe and secure environment throughout the Championships,” he noted.
The GABF President said that “a thing of beauty is a joy forever”, observing that what took place in Guyana over the last two weeks laid the foundation for how a nation should rally behind sport for holistic development. Hinds said that Guyana succeeded.

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