Heritage Games kick off

DPI, Guyana, Friday, September 21, 2018

The Indigenous Heritage Games are more than just playing sports, they are an opportunity for Indigenous athletes to make their mark and represent Guyana.

So, said Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe at the opening of the Indigenous Heritage Games at Everest Sports Ground. Six hundred athletes from Indigenous villages countrywide will be participating in cricket, volleyball, football, swimming and archery over the next three days.

The minister highlighted that due to the heritage games last year, a number of Indigenous athletes are now representing Guyana in football including Ronaldo Rodrigues, Wayne DaSilva, Franklin Peters, Naomi Aaron and Shemika Atkinson.

“Heritage games is not just you coming to Georgetown and playing a game; it is you having an opportunity to be chosen to represent Guyana at the national level in the different disciplines,” the minister stated.

Various teams during the symbolic march pass

Various teams during the symbolic march pass

Various teams during the symbolic march pass

Various teams during the symbolic march pass

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe [left], with Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton [right] pose with one of the football teams from Region Seven

Various teams during the symbolic march pass

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock gets things going while Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton, Permanent Secretary to the ministry, Alfred King and President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde look on

Various teams during the symbolic march pass

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock echoed similar sentiments, adding that the games called upon the athletes to display discipline.

“The games, our celebration, is not only a wild thing; it is about looking for the opportunity of getting better in every area of sport so that we can have something to celebrate as a nation.”

Aside from having Indigenous peoples on Guyana’s national teams, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton would like them to push themselves a bit further and aim for the world stage. That is, competing at the World Indigenous Games – a multisport event, which involves over 2,000 athletes from over 30 different countries.

The first day’s events will see strictly football action. The following day archery, volleyball, cricket will be ongoing at the Everest Sports Ground while swimming competitions take place at the National Aquatic Centre. All of the events start at 09:00hrs.

Isaiah Braithwaite

Image: Jules Gibson