Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, has declared that sport is fundamental to Guyana’s national identity as the country prepares to host a massive multi-discipline festival to mark its 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee.
Speaking at the launch of the celebrations on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Ramson stated that there was “no uncertainty” regarding the inclusion of sport in the national festivities, noting that the initiative has the direct backing and interest of President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the entire cabinet.
The Minister expressed his ambition for these tournaments to become an annual fixture on the Guyanese sporting calendar and announced a commitment to live-stream all finals on the Ministry’s social media platforms to ensure national engagement.
Minister Steven Jacobs, who highlighted the power of sport to foster harmony, echoed his sentiments, noting that over the last 60 years, sport has consistently brought the people of Guyana together as the nation continues its development.
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations will feature competition across 10 distinct disciplines: athletics, badminton, tennis, softball cricket, table tennis, basketball, dominoes, hockey, squash and volleyball.
The athletics program will be headlined by a 10k road relay on May 30, organised by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).
President Sherly Hermonstine confirmed the race will begin and end at the Ministry’s headquarters on Main Street. The event features a unique format in which teams of four males and two females will compete, with the relay open to athletes from all sporting backgrounds to test their general fitness.
Court and indoor sports will dominate much of the mid-May schedule. The National Gymnasium will host badminton from May 14-17, featuring five categories, including Under-23 singles and mixed doubles.
Basketball will shift its focus to the 3×3 format, a move intended to assist Guyana’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games and Olympic qualification.
Meanwhile, table tennis organisers are promising lucrative prizes across eight categories at the Gymnasium from May 23-25.
The Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. is organising Over-40, Over-50, and ladies’ categories from May 15-17, with the finals set for the Police Sports Club.
Hockey fans will also see elite action under the lights at the National Stadium, with the Guyana Hockey Board exploring additional matches at the Joe Vieira Ground to bring the sport to fans in West Demerara.
The racquet sports lineup is equally robust, with squash featuring the top eight junior and senior players at the National Racquet Centre.
Tennis will be played in an abbreviated one-set format across various age groups, from Under-12s to Over-45s, between May 16 and 24.
Rounding out the celebrations, the National Sports Hall will host a massive 42-team dominoes tournament with a $300,000 top prize, while the Guyana Volleyball Federation will hold a high-stakes one-day tournament on May 23.
The volleyball event is expected to be a truly national affair, with top male and female teams travelling from as far as Bartica and Lethem to compete for Jubilee glory.
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