Colourful opening ceremony to usher Commonwealth Youth Games

Aug 04, 2023 Sports

By Rawle Toney

Kaieteur Sports – A vibrant burst of colours will light up the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago today, as the seventh Commonwealth Youth Games commences with a carnival-style celebration.

The eagerly anticipated event is scheduled to take place from August 4th to 11th and will feature seven disciplines, bringing together athletes and para-athletes aged between 14 and 18.

This marks the second time that the prestigious Commonwealth Games Federation event is being hosted in the Caribbean, with the first being in The Bahamas in 2017.

Originally planned for 2021, the Games had to be postponed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, finally, the opening ceremony will be graced with performances by the Kiddies Carnival Kings and Queens, alongside a youth steel pan ensemble. The event will also celebrate Emancipation Day, observed on August 1, and showcase the rich history of the Caribbean.

The ceremony will culminate in a captivating performance by Freetown Collective, who will present the Games’ Official Song, “Stay Ready.”

Dignitaries such as the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Kangaloo, and the Commonwealth Games Federation President, Dame Louise Martin, will welcome the athletes and officially inaugurate the Games.

Trinbago 2023 will proudly present over 1,000 athletes competing in athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, netball (Fast5), rugby sevens, swimming, and triathlon.

President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Dame Louise Martin in Trinidad and Tobago for the Trinbago2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The sporting events will take place at various venues across Trinidad and Tobago, including the Hasely Crawford Stadium (for Athletics and Para-Athletics), National Aquatics Centre (for Swimming), National Cycling Velodrome (for Track Cycling) in Trinidad, Pigeon Point Beach (for Beach Volleyball) and Shaw Park Cultural Complex (for Fast5 Netball) in Tobago.

Significantly, Para-Athletics will be included in the Games for the first time in history, adding an extra layer of excitement and inclusivity to the event.

Seventy-one nations will participate in the Games, with 14 representing the Americas, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, along with the host nation, Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana, in particular, will be represented by eight talented athletes competing in Athletics and Swimming.

In Swimming, which gets going on Sunday Ariel Rodrigues, Elliott Gonsalves, and Shareefah Lewis will display their skills in the pool, guided by coach Syhka Gonsalves.

The Track and Field events, which starts on Tuesday, will feature CARIFTA medallists Tianna Springer, Javon Roberts, Attoya Harvey, Malachi Austin, and Narissa McPherson, with Julian Edmonds as their coach.

Supporting the athletes during the Games will be a contingent of 13 from Guyana, including Dr Victor Allen, Physiotherapist Vanessa Wickham, and Team Leader Nalini McKoy.

Notably, Guyanese boxers Clevlon Rock and Keevin Allicock have previously won medals at Commonwealth Youth Games, both securing silver.

However, boxing will not be included among the eight disciplines at this year’s event in Trinidad and Tobago.

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Commonwealth, Games, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Rawle Toney, Trinidad and Tobago, youth

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