Guyana set to make history with debut in 3×3 basketball at Commonwealth Games

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) have officially announced Guyana’s qualification for the 3×3 basketball competition at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, marking a historic first for the nation’s basketball programme.
At a press conference hosted by the two bodies on Friday at the Olympic House, Liliendaal, officials underscored the significance of the achievement and outlined the team’s preparation plans as they gear up for their debut on one of the world’s biggest multi-sport stages.
The Vice President of the Guyana Basketball Federation, Rawle Toney, who also serves as technical delegate for 3×3 basketball at the Commonwealth Games, described the qualification as a landmark moment for the sport locally.
“This will be our debut in basketball at the Commonwealth Games, and from a 3×3 perspective, it represents quite a lot,” Toney said.

Reflecting on his experience at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where 3×3 basketball was introduced to the programme, Toney noted that witnessing the high level of competition first-hand reinforced the need for a professional and structured approach to preparation.
“Because I saw the level at which they competed in Birmingham, automatically I knew – and our federation knew – that we would have to take things along a professional route in terms of preparing the players,” he explained.
The team has already begun an intensive preparation schedule, starting with a week-long training camp that will culminate in a local tournament. From there, two Guyanese teams will travel to Suriname to compete in the Lite Quest tournament, with the aim of advancing to a Challenger event in Brazil. Additional participation in Lite Quest and Quest tournaments is also planned as part of capacity-building efforts ahead of the Games.
President of the Guyana Olympic Association, Godfrey Munroe, emphasised the magnitude of the Commonwealth Games within the global sporting calendar.
“The Commonwealth Games is the second-largest multi-sport event and forms part of the Olympic cycle,” Munroe stated. “When we were nominating possible teams with qualification potential, 3×3 basketball stood out as one of the sports that could make it.”
Munroe noted that Guyana’s qualification places the country among an elite group of just 12 teams selected from across 74 Commonwealth nations – a feat he described as a testament to the team’s quality and hard work.
“It is a key opportunity for us as a country, as a basketball fraternity, and as the Olympic family to showcase Guyana’s skills on the international stage,” he added.
Vice-President of the GOA, Cristy Campbell, also lauded the GBF for its structured and systematic preparation, describing the qualification as a “remarkable achievement”.
“This is historic – the first qualification for a basketball discipline at the Commonwealth Games – and that is quite significant,” Campbell said.
She encouraged players to remain committed to training, highlighting the busy calendar of upcoming regional and international multi-sport events later this year. With some competitions scheduled to run simultaneously – including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games – opportunities will abound for athletes to represent Guyana.
“Whether you make a squad or not, continue training,” Campbell urged. “There are many opportunities that can be derived from consistent preparation and participation.”