Sport directors from Guyana and Suriname have held preliminary discussions about a new regional initiative that could pave the way for a multi-disciplinary CARICOM Games.
Guyana’s Steve Ninvalle and Suriname’s Enrique Ralim met in Suriname to chart a course for expanding the role of athletics during CARICOM Day celebrations and the annual Conference of Heads of Government.
The ambitious project seeks to build on the foundation of the annual CARICOM 10K Road Race by introducing additional sporting disciplines, with the ultimate objective of developing a full-scale regional Games.
Sport has long served as a vital vehicle for social cohesion and regional integration across the Caribbean, dating back to CARICOM’s establishment in 1973 under the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Guyana stands as one of the community’s founding members, while Suriname joined as its 14th member state in July 1995.
Ninvalle highlighted the success of the existing 10K race as clear proof of the region’s willingness to embrace sport as a unifying force, asserting that the time is right to scale up those efforts.
With Ralim backing the concept, both officials are now preparing a formal proposal to present to their respective governments before submitting the plan to the wider CARICOM body for consideration.
If realised, the proposed CARICOM Games would mark a landmark expansion for Caribbean sport, offering athletes, coaches, and administrators a major new platform to compete and build cross-border relationships.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
