Suriname’s Director of Sport, Gordon Tjouw Ngie Touw has officially confirmed that the staging of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), which were pencilled in for the October 26-31 window, has been postponed for several weeks.
This regrettable reality was communicated to his counterparts in Guyana and French Guiana, the other participants in the annual occurrence. Suriname previously staged the 2017 edition, which was the last iteration before a five-year hiatus.
Ngie Touw disclosed that the preparation and organisation of the IGG have been impeded after financial resources and support have not been made accessible by the Surinamese administration. According to Ngie Touw, the aforementioned reality forces the IGG executive organisation to postpone the championship by several weeks.
Ngie Touw apologised for the existing quandary, but confirmed that a formal letter from the country’s Sports Affairs, which will contain the new dates for the competition, would be dispatched to the relevant offices of Guyana and French Guiana once approval is granted from the Surinamese government.
Directors of Sport in Guyana and Suriname, Gordon Tjouw Ngie Touw and Steve Ninvalle
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Director of Sports, Steve Ninvalle, said, “The IGG in its present form (10 sport disciplines) is a huge undertaking. The postponement will disrupt some of our plans but we fully understand the circumstances. Based on the protocol of agreement between the nations, an inspection a month prior to the commencement of the event must occur. However, that has not been undertaken, which pushes the possible timeline further back for the staging of the Games. We are simply awaiting official confirmation from our Surinamese counterparts on the way forward for the event,” Ninvalle said.
“Importantly, the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr, has been fully briefed of the recent developments and the possible outcomes. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport; the National Sports Commission, and more profoundly, the Government of Guyana, remain committed to this traditional endeavour, which has fostered unity and cohesion amongst its participants,” Ninvalle concluded.
The IGG was first held in 1967 and is traditionally staged on an annual basis. However, the games were 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 on local soil featured over 400 athletes and coaches and had participation in nine disciplines.
The IGG not only showcases the future young athletes of the three countries, but it also serves as a cultural and educational platform. The IGG helps forge unity, trust, and understanding among the peoples of the Guianas. Among the disciplines that are traditionally featured at the event are football, volleyball, basketball, cycling, swimming, track and field, chess, and badminton.
