60th National Cycling, Swimming, and Track and Field Championships launched
-15 districts to battle for supremacy
The 60th National Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships have been launched on Thursday afternoon, November 17, and will be hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union from 27 November to 2 December 2022.
Both hosting entities are extremely excited to be engaging in these activities after two years of the Championships having been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing an overview of the upcoming events, Guyana Teachers’ Union President Mark Lyte has said that, over the course of six days, the nation’s best student-athletes and teachers from the 15 districts will be competing for medals and bragging rights in swimming at the National Aquatic Centre, cycling at the National Park, and athletics at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.
On Monday, November 28, the National Park and National Aquatic Centre will be packed with competing cyclists and swimmers, while all roads would lead to the National Track and Field Center from November 29 to December 2, 2022, for the athletics leg of the championships.
Delivering brief remarks at the launch, Chief Education Officer Dr Marcel Hutson said the Ministry of Education has prioritised sports development in the education system. He explained that sports form part of the Ministry’s agenda to produce well-rounded students.
“We believe that significant investments were injected by the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Education, for the development of sports in schools. So, this is a big thing on the agenda, because our National Strategic Plan speaks clearly to the promotion of sports, because what we intend to do is to build the whole man; speak to the body, the soul and the spirit.”
Dr Hutson has called on students to be supportive of their peers during the competition. He has also commended the National Management Committee for its dedication in ensuring the event is hosted.
Also delivering remarks was Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters, who said that company has been these championships’ biggest supporter over the years. He expressed the company’s appreciation for being part of the event, and noted that the company remains committed to supporting the development of Guyana’s youth through education and sport.
Present at the event were members of the Management Committee, the Deputy Director of Sport, Ms. Melissa Dow-Richardson, along with students and teachers from schools in Region Three.