Hundreds celebrate World Challenge Day – urged to adapt a healthy lifestyle

By Avenash Ramzan

Hundreds of students, athletes, teachers and officials were on Wednesday morning reminded of the importance of fitness and exercise as Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Challenge Day.
Participants of 19 schools, drawn from Houston to Timehri on the East Bank of Demerara participated in the activity, which is an annual undertaking by the National Sports Commission at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The activity, which was celebrated across the world, was aimed at adopting a new attitude towards active living by stimulating persons to break their daily routine and perform any kind of physical activity for at least 15 minutes.
As was the case in previous years, the participants were taken through the mandatory session of physical exercise this by Genenis Express’ Noshavyah King and her assistant, as well as popular fitness instructor, Curtis McKenzie.
After that, young students of School of the Nations wowed the audience, with a jump rope display, an activity that was incorporated into World Challenge Day – Guyana’s celebrations for the first time.
This was followed by a demonstration on the fundamentals of cricket by coaches Latchman Yadram and Daniel Richmond, a yoga session by Yadram, a dance piece by members of the National School of Dance, a boxing exhibition led by coach Wincel Thomas, and an acrobatic session by the Guyana Police Force, all of which were well received.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar, delivering remarks at the three-hour event, said it is the right of everyone to have a healthy lifestyle.
He said he was particularly pleased to see the large turnout from the young people at Wednesday’s activity, noting that for a country to remain healthy and productive, the importance of fitness and exercise must be instilled into persons from an early age.
Permanent Secretary in the Sport Ministry, Alfred King, said government is committed to having mass participation in sport, pointing out the number of facilities it has constructed across the country. Aside from that, King stated the administration is a strong advocate of healthy living which is a critical component of human, community and national development.
Similar World Challenge Day activities were held across the country where the participants were reminded of the importance of health and fitness.