The National Sports Commission (NSC) on Friday handed out two million dollars to Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) and $250,000 to the Jefford Classic Track and Field event.
Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, gifted the donation to the two groups and stated, this is part of the NSC’s mandate to grant support to such groups in Guyana.
With regards to the YGB, which concluded its 14th year in school basketball recently, Jones expressed, “We recognised that this festival has continued to grow and produced some of Guyana’s most outstanding basketball players such as Stanton Rose Jr. In effort to have its continued success of the grassroot programme, it is important we pledge this financial grant.”
Director of YBG, Rayad Boyce, was overjoyed about receiving the significant support for the festival which catered for 46 teams across six regions. Boyce added the money will allow them to begin preparation at the grassroot level for the 15th edition of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Edison Jefford, founder of the marque Jefford Classic, noted the support is significant since it goes a long way in developing the core of the country’s future athletic stars. He further recognised the continued efforts of Jones to support sport much as possible.
The athletics meet, which is in its 10th year, will be held at Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden, on Sunday, August 11.
The top three finishers would receive $40,000, $25,000 and $15,000 respectively. The event will get underway at 09:00h and admission is $1,000 for adults and $500 for children.
