SURINAME · SPORT
Key Facts
- —What is happening Suriname opened the Inter-Guyanese Games on Friday, 23 October, hosting school-age athletes from Guyana and French Guiana in Paramaribo through Sunday, 25 October.
- —Why it matters The games bring young athletes from three neighbouring countries together; their official languages are Dutch, English and French.
- —The numbers Three countries, eight sports (six regular, two introductory) and three days of competition; the games date back to 1967.
- —Who is who Lalinie Gopal is Suriname’s minister of youth development and sport, and opened the games on behalf of President Jennifer Simons.
- —What to watch The competition ends on Sunday, 25 October, and the final medal table has not yet been published.
- —What it means for you For US readers this is a small regional event with no direct effect on US markets or policy, but it shows Suriname’s school-sport links with its neighbours.
Young athletes from three South American neighbours began three days of competition in Paramaribo on Friday. The games date back to 1967.
The Inter-Guyanese Games 2026 Suriname opening took place on Friday, 23 October, at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo. Young athletes from Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana will compete in Paramaribo until Sunday, 25 October.
It matters to foreign readers because it links three small neighbours that speak Dutch, English and French. The Stichting Schoolsport Federatie Suriname organises it, DWT Online reported, and the Suriname Herald and GFC Nieuws covered the opening.
Inter-Guyanese Games 2026 Suriname Opening: What Happened
Minister Lalinie Gopal opened the games on behalf of President Jennifer Simons, the Suriname Herald reported. She leads the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport, and the motto is “Building Nation Through School Sport.”
In her opening speech Gopal said, in Dutch, “Sport brengt ons samen, zelfs wanneer we op het speelveld tegenover elkaar staan.” In English, that reads: sport brings us together even when we face each other on the field.
She also urged the young competitors to show discipline, respect their opponents and play fair, GFC Nieuws reported, citing the government. She asked governments, sports bodies, parents and civil society to keep backing young athletes.
She declared the games open with: “Lang leve de sport, en lang leve de vriendschap tussen Suriname, Guyana en Frans-Guyana!” The Suriname Herald and DWT Online carried it; in translation, long live sport and the friendship among the three countries.
Eight Sports and Three Countries
The regular programme has athletics, basketball, volleyball, swimming, chess and futsal, which is five-a-side indoor football. Boxing and judo were added as introductory sports, the Suriname Herald, GFC Nieuws and DWT Online reported.
Guyana’s Kaieteur News reported in September that each host may add two introductory disciplines, quoting Guyana’s sport director. DWT Online reported on 20 October that boxing pits Suriname against Guyana and judo Suriname against French Guiana.
DWT Online reports that boys and girls under 18 take part, and GFC Nieuws calls it a school sports event. Kaieteur News calls the event the Inter Guiana Games and also describes it as an under-18 competition.
DWT Online said on 20 October that more than 150 Surinamese athletes were preparing to compete. It said the Guyanese and French Guianese delegations arrive on Thursday and leave on Monday.
A Competition Dating Back to 1967
Minister Gopal said the tradition dates back to 1967, according to the Suriname Herald, and Kaieteur News gives the same year. Kaieteur News says the games began as a way of fostering bilateral relations through sport.
Football was the first sport between Guyana and Suriname, and basketball joined in 1972, Kaieteur News reported. The two countries first competed for the Forbes Burnham/Johan Pengel Trophy, named for their two leaders of 1967.
Suriname won last year’s overall title in Georgetown, Kaieteur News reported, with Guyana second and French Guiana third. Sports directors Steve Ninvalle of Guyana, Enrique Ralim of Suriname and Tatiana Tisserand of French Guiana signed the protocol for this edition.
Ninvalle told Kaieteur News: “We speak different languages, but on the field of play, we all speak the same language.” The comment was made before the games, in September.
What It Means for US Readers
The games have no direct effect on US markets, travel advice or policy. They show how Suriname, a small Dutch-speaking country of South America, hosts its neighbours through school sport.
Most events are at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal, DWT Online reported, with chess at Residence Inn. No money figures were published, so there are no local-currency amounts to convert.
What Is Not Known
No report gives the total number of athletes, though DWT Online counted more than 150 Surinamese before the games. No first-day results or medal table were available in the reports reviewed.
Suriname’s reports say 23 to 25 October; Kaieteur News gave 22 to 26 in September and 23 to 26 on 23 October. This article uses 23 to 25 October, which the host reports and Kaieteur News’ 22 October departure report give.
The reports name six regular sports plus two introductory ones, which makes eight. Whether boxing and judo count in the overall medal table is not stated.
What Comes Next
Competition continues through Sunday, 25 October, when the Suriname Herald, GFC Nieuws and DWT Online say the games end. The overall champion for 2026 will be known only after the final events.
For history and who takes part, see the explainer on the Inter-Guyanese Games. More on the country is on the Suriname page, in Suriname’s key political players and in Suriname’s culture figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Inter-Guyanese Games?
A regional competition for young athletes from Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, first held in 1967. The 2026 edition is hosted in Paramaribo.
When do the 2026 games run?
The Suriname Herald and GFC Nieuws say they opened on Friday, 23 October and run to Sunday, 25 October. Kaieteur News gave other dates in September.
Which sports are included?
Athletics, basketball, volleyball, swimming, chess and futsal, plus boxing and judo as introductory sports. That makes eight in total.
Who opened the games?
Minister Lalinie Gopal of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport opened them. She did so on behalf of President Jennifer Simons.
Who won last year?
Suriname won the overall title at the games in Georgetown last year, Kaieteur News reported. Guyana finished second and French Guiana third.
Sources: Suriname Herald, 23 October 2026; GFC Nieuws (from the government of Suriname), 23 October 2026; Kaieteur News, 18 September 2026; DWT Online, 23 October 2026; DWT Online, 20 October 2026; Kaieteur News, 22 October 2026 (all accessed 24 October 2026). More: Suriname news.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief