(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, greater Georgetown, Guyana) Some of the leading businesses in Guyana have thrown their full support behind the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Annual 10K Road Race set to take place in Guyana on 28 June 2009.
To date, Digicel and Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company Limited (GTM), John Fernandes Insurance Services Limited, Ansa Mcal, Hand–in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Ltd, Laparkan and the North American Fire and General Insurance Ltd.( NAFICO) have given their firm commitment to assist in funding the event, with Digicel and GTM being two of the three major sponsors of the Race.
First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB), which was one of the sponsors of last year’s edition in Antigua and Barbuda, has decided to be a major sponsor for this year’s run.
The CARICOM 10K Race which begins at 7:00a.m. at the CARICOM Secretariat and ends at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, is being staged under the theme Health, Wealth and Prosperity in keeping with the Community’s thrust to promote healthy lifestyles through physical activity in the Region in a bid to fight Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.
CARICOM Secretariat’s Deputy Programme Manager for Sports Development, Mr. John Campbell, has praised Guyana’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport and the Guyana Amateur Athletic Association (GAAA) for “the tremendous work they have been doing as part of the Local Organizing Committee to ensure that everything is in place for the starter’s block on Sunday June 28.”
The 10K Race is open to both professionals and amateur males and females over 16, with three additional categories for youth, children under 16 and the differently-abled, who will compete in a special 5K event.
With the firm support of the corporate sponsors, the organising team has been able to harness cash prizes, trophies and medals. The top male and female of the 10K Run will be running home with US$1200 as well as the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy and the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy respectively, while the second place finishers will take home US$900 along with the CARICOM Secretariat’s Human and Social Development Directorate Trophy. The Third place finishers will receive US$700 as well as medals. In addition, there will be trophies for the winners in the youth, children and differently-abled categories.
There will also be other prizes of gift baskets and hampers. Commemorative medals will be presented to every runner in the event.
Both the top male and female of the 10K Run will be presented with their trophies at the Opening Ceremony of the 30th Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government on 2 July 2009 at the National Culture Centre.
