MoE, GTU/ 57th National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Championships
By Michelangelo Jacobus
The 57th Edition of the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships popularly known as “Nationals” was launched on Wednesday by officials from the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch in the boardroom of the MOE, Brickdam, GTU President Mark Lyte pointed out that the Championships have been successfully run for
GTU, MOE officials and other Stakeholders at the launch of the 57th National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Championships
several years with athletes emerging from the event to represent Guyana at various international meets with relative success.
While pointing out that the championships will be held at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora for the first time, Lyte revealed that this decision was taken in a bid to expose Guyana’s young athletes to competing at international standards.
Lyte also pointed out that the GTU is working closely with the MOE and other stakeholders to ensure that this year’s championships “are second to none.”
The GTU head explained that all systems are in place for the “Nationals” to be run off as the athletes have all been registered while accommodation has already been taken care of.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) at the MOE, Marcel Hutson was also present at the launch and declared that the “Championships are here to stay” as it is in keeping with the Ministry’s agenda of providing a “well-rounded education” for the future leaders of Guyana.
Hutson also revealed that for Guyana to be a “healthy country” it should start at an early age thus sport throughout the schools is necessary.
The CEO underscored the importance of ensuring that those athletes who would stand out at the Championships do not fade into oblivion but opined that they should be earmarked for further development by the various sport associations.
“I believe we are going to witness the greatest championships ever this year” Hutson stated; he also singled out beverage giant Banks DIH for their sterling contribution to the Championships over the years of its existence.
Meanwhile Permanent Secretary of the MOE, Vibert Welch echoed Hutson’s sentiments saying “the 57th edition of the championships will go down in the annals of history.” Welch commended the GTU, stakeholders and the sponsors for all contributing to make this year’s championships a success.
Logistics
The student-athletes will be housed in close vicinity to the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, West Coast Demerara. At least three schools have been identified as “Games Villages”; those schools include Leonora Secondary School, Stewartville Primary and Secondary as well as the Uitvlugt Secondary School.
Meals for the athletes will be prepared at the Leonora Primary School thus negating arduous travelling arrangements.
Meanwhile the various Regions have purchased the necessary foot wear for their respective athletes; as such most of the athletes competing at the Championships will have footgear.
In regards to timings and results at the championships, the Athletics association of Guyana (AAG) will be responsible for the track and field events, AAG Boss Aubrey Hutson noted that all times and results will be sent to the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF).
The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) will be responsible for the cycling events and will also be recording the times and results officially.
The Championships will be officially opened on November 26 at the National Track & Field Facility at Leonora. The cycling and swimming events will kick off on November 27 with the former pedaling off in the National Park while the National Aquatic Center will host the swimming.
The athletes will be rehydrated by three brands from Banks DIH, those brands are Powerade, Malta Supreme and Rainforest Water.
The Track and Field events will be run off at Leonora from November 28- December 1. District 10-Upper Demerara/Kwakwani are the defending champions.
