As part of its sponsorship of the recently concluded Senior Bodybuilding Championships, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport rewarded the top performers on Friday at their boardroom on Main Street, Georgetown.
Minister Charles Ramson Jr. indicated it was a show of their commitment and they would endeavour to collaborate with the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation for the next event in 2023.
Approximately, G$1.5 million was distributed to the athletes.
The overall bodybuilding champion was awarded$250,000 while category winners got $50,000 followed by $30,000 (second) and $20,000 (third).
$200,000, $100,000, $50,000, and $30,000 for the top four in the Miss Bikini segment while the same applies to the Men’s Physique.
The new Wellness category for women had a top prize of $200,000 for first and $100,000 for second; only two persons contested that segment.
In committing to sponsorship in 2023 on the condition the Championships are held in partnership with the Ministry, Minister Ramson Jr. advised the athletes to become more mainstream.
“In relation to what is the wider vision for you and your sport, it is how you mainstream both the sport, and how you mainstream yourself, and one of the ways to do that is to build stronger relationships with one of the biggest mainstreams that there is, and that is government”, the Minister stated.
The Minister further indicated that though Bodybuilding is not a core sport, they will still commit to supporting the athletes.
When the Championships were stage on December 18, Darious Ramsammy flexed his way to a second consecutive Mr. Guyana title while Sport Journalist and Fitness instructor, Emmerson Campbell won his sixth Men’s Physique title in seven years, only falling short of gold in 2017, when he finished third.
Hannah Rampersaud took gold in the Miss Bikini and IFBB Pro Card winner Rosanna Fung won the newly introduced Wellness category.
