PLANS are well on stream for the staging of the Guyana Teachers Union’s (GTU) National Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships which are scheduled for November 18 to 22 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport on Friday during the North Georgetown ‘Champion of Champions’ meet at the GCC ground, Bourda, GTU’s Administrative Field Officer Lance Baptiste said all of the GTU’s 16 Districts have confirmed their participation in this year’s championships.

He said each of the Districts will conduct their respective inter-branch and inter zone meets before naming their teams for the National Championships.

He however noted that unlike past years when Georgetown which comprises of North, South and East held individual zone sports then inter-zone sports, this year, each of the three Districts will hold a ‘Champion of Champions’ meet to select their best athletes. “This will enable each of the three Districts to have their best athletes represent them.

South Georgetown and East Georgetown District sports are to be held next week, and according to Baptiste, South Georgetown will have theirs at the GCC ground Bourda also.

Baptiste said unlike past years when schools were required to pay an entrance fee to participate in the zone sports, and this fee also allowed them participate in the inter-zone meets, this year, each school is required to pay an entrance fee of $5000 to participate in the ‘Champion of Champions’ championships and this money will be used to offset expenses for the use of the ground, the marking of the ground and snacks and refreshments for the officials.

He said the cost for using the Bourda sward is $75,000.

According to another GTU official, the North Georgetown Zone consists of schools from the sea walls on the Northern side, Hadfield Street on the Southern side, the Demerara River on the Western side and Albert Street on the Eastern side and it includes private schools as well.

The official said this year, nine primary schools as well as 16 secondary and private schools make up the North Georgetown Zone.

Asked what is the budget for staging the National Championships in Linden next month, Baptiste said in the vicinity of $10M which is $3M more than it cost last year.

Asked who will finance the Districts for the National Championships, Baptiste, a former GTU president said each of the 10 Administrative Regions would have to find the money to offset the expenses to transport their teams to Linden and they will also have to provide meals for their athletes and officials as well.

He explained that Georgetown is not within a Region, but the Education Department will be responsible for funding the three Districts (North, South and East). “So the cost for the championships will be bourne by the education departments in each of the Regions.

Baptiste said in the past, Corporate Guyana used to host the entire championships but over the past three or four years this has not been the case, “but what will happen is, letters were sent out to a number of business houses seeking assistance with providing trophies, medals and jerseys for the athletes and officials.