The staging of this year’s Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) in Suriname from November 17th to 19th has been set in stone with the signing of the protocol agreement occurring on Thursday last (November 2nd) in the host country’s capital, Paramaribo.
In a formal meeting involving the respective Directors of Sport of the participating countries – Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana – the accord was inked, symbolizing the final step in the confirmation of the event. Inspection of the sports facilities and accommodation apparatus was also officially done.
Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Vice-President Cristy Campbell, board member of the National Sports Commission (NSC), accompanied Guyana’s Director of Sport (DoS) Steve Ninvalle on the visit to neighbouring Suriname.
In centre, DoS Steve Ninvalle; French Guiana’s Vivane Tchung Ming; and DoS of Suriname, Gordon Touw Ngie Tjouw, displaying the signed agreements
During the post-signing press conference, Ninvalle said, “I bear you greetings from the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., and just to say that we are very happy that Guyana can once again be participating in the IGG. We would have had site visits and inspections of the accommodation facilities in Suriname, and we are very happy with what we saw. It is important that we note that the IGG, in our thinking, is not about any one country being victorious on the field of play, but I think we all will come out winners because of the bonds and friendships that we would have earned and developed during the course of the IGG.”
Ninvalle further posited, “Now that the IGG is over 50 years old, we have seen the closeness that it has brought the three nations; and I would expect that coming out of the IGG in 2023, we would become even closer. It would be remiss of me if I did not urge and encourage my colleagues that after more than 50 years, I think it’s appropriate…that we come together and try to have a logo that will carry us through to the other years. And adding to that, it is my hope also that we will have a flag that we can proudly display as an IGG flag and as a representative of the friendship and camaraderie that would have been harnessed over the 50 years.
“We expect to be very competitive; we expect that the level of camaraderie and brotherhood will hold for IGG 2023 as it has held for all the other years; and we will expect that, from this, we can only develop into better nations. Come IGG 2024, we expect to have much more rounded and impactful games. This is my personal wish, and I also share that this is the wish of my Honourable Minister Charles Ramson Jr.,” he added.
GOA Vice President Campbell said, “For us, it’s not about domination, as Director Ninvalle would have mentioned; it’s more about unity and embracing our sister countries. We have had this partnership for decades, and we just hope that the Games continue to foster good relations, and that we have a good brotherhood and sisterhood, moving forward. It would be difficult for me to isolate and say that Guyana is going to dominate in any one sport, because we are not an arrogant nation. We never underestimate our opposition, and we just look forward to fair play and mutual respect across the board. And hopefully, all of the athletes and officials have a good time as well.”
The aforesaid sentiments were also echoed by Director Ninvalle, who, in closing remarks, said, “The only thing I think that we all will dominate in is the fostering of unity; and that is what I hope that we all can dominate.”
The historic event, which was initially set for the October 26th–31st window, was deferred for several weeks owing to a dearth of fiscal resources from the Surinamese administration. Suriname had previously staged the 2017 edition, which was the last iteration before the five-year hiatus.
Meanwhile, the eight disciplines that would be contested are: chess, futsal, football, lawn tennis, swimming, basketball, volleyball, and athletics. The two disciplines that have been removed from the initial list of 10 sports following a request from the hosts are table tennis and badminton.
The staging of respective international competitions in the aforesaid disciplines during the same window is the primary reason for their removal from the competitive list.
The travelling delegations are expected to arrive in Suriname by November 16th, and depart therefrom by November 20th.
The IGG was first held in 1967, and is traditionally staged on an annual basis. However, interest in the Games was rekindled last year by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government following a five-year hiatus, a period that encompassed the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 edition, held on Guyanese soil, featured over 400 athletes and coaches.
The IGG not only showcases the future young athletes of the three countries, but also serves as a cultural and educational platform. The IGG helps forge unity, trust, and understanding among the peoples of the Guianas.
