The last Inter Guiana Games were held in 2014 with representation from all three nations
INTER-Guiana Games organizers from Guyana and Suriname will consider the possibility of hosting the tri-nation Games without the participation of the French Guiana team, if correspondence to the French nation continues to go unanswered, as has been the case since earlier this year. According to Director of Sport Christopher Jones, a meeting between the three nations had been set for earlier this year in French Guiana to discuss the planning of the multi-sports Games.
However, that meeting never happened, reason for the cancellation was attributed to the French nation’s recent elections held in December of last year. Following the cancellation subsequent correspondence has not been forthcoming from the French Nation.
“We are still awaiting confirmation from French Guiana. We [Guyana and Suriname] were scheduled to meet in French Guiana on January 19th earlier this year, but that was cancelled. Both sides are waiting to hear from French Guiana. We have been sending correspondence to French Guiana but no response,” Jones said.
However, if French Guiana continues to be unresponsive the probability stands that the Games will go on without them. It is expected that the event, which usually involves two stages in two different countries will be relegated to just one and that one will be in Guyana.
“We are set, in terms of Guyana we are set to host the games, it is likely that we would have one leg, though,” Jones further stated. What remains uncertain, however, Jones pointed out, is when the event would be held and which sporting disciplines would be done. The annual Games, last held in 2014, after several hiccups and continued cancellation, resulted in no games being held last year.
The fact that all three nations held their general elections last year played a part in the continued sidelining of the event.
Guyana was set to host the first leg of the Games last August but it was cancelled after Suriname was without a Sports Minister having recently concluded their elections. Subsequently the second stage of the Games, set for French Guiana in October was also cancelled, again because of pending elections.
The Inter-Guiana Games is an event between Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana that began in 1967. The Games usually involve competition in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, chess, athletics, swimming, and table tennis.
