Guyana to participate in cultural aspect of 2020 Olympics

It is expected that Guyana will have a part to play in the cultural exchange component of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
This announcement comes on the heels of Social Cohesion Minister Dr. George Norton’s engagement with the Olympic body. Accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Melissa Tucker and Assistant Director of Sport Ms. Melissa Dow-Richardson, Minister Norton met with officials of the Secretariat of the Headquarters for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games earlier in the week.

That meeting, held in Minister Norton’s Georgetown office, discussed the Host Town Initiative and the possibility of Guyana participating in the post-Olympic activity being introduced by Japan.
According to Assistant Director of the Tokyo Olympic Secretariat, Toshihiro Hayashi, the Host Town Initiative seeks to capitalise on the influx of hundreds of countries as an opportunity to expose the Japanese people to various cultures that exist across the world.
Of the 207 countries participating in next year’s Olympics, some 135 have already committed to participating in the cultural exchange, which will commence the week following the games.
Minister Norton believes the initiative will be mutually beneficial, and has promised to do all that he can to facilitate the participation of Guyanese athletes.
The Host Town Initiative is being fully funded by the local government bodies of Japan.
Should the Guyana delegation choose to stay on for the post-Olympic exchange, they would be afforded opportunity to engage the residents of Date City, Japan. In addition to attending sports workshops and visiting schools and other public places to interact with students and residents, they would be afforded the opportunity to experience all that Date City has to offer, including its unique scenery and cuisine.
There would also be opportunity to learn about the history of Japan and be part of festivals being hosted during that period.
At 102.36 square miles, Date City has an estimated population of 61,207 persons living in 22,590 households.
Guyana and Japan are expected to have a year of information exchange in preparation for the Host Town Initiative. The exchanges will commence from August 2019.
The Assistant Director of Sport has confidence in the Guyanese contingent’s ability to adequately showcase Guyana’s culture on an international stage.
“As athletes, you are trained to not only shine on field, but to also be ambassadors for your country. I’m certain that our athletes are capable of showcasing Guyana culturally,” Dow-Richardson has said.
Also attending the meeting was Keeichi Tada, Senior Policy Coordinator attached to the Secretariat of the Headquarters for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with Foreign Service Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royston Alkins.
In wrapping up the engagement, the visiting team also expressed gratitude for the assistance Guyana had provided during the devastating earthquake that hit Japan in 2011.