The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) inaugurated, with great splendor, hubbub and color, the twenty-fifth version of the Interdepartmental Games of that monetary institution, dedicated on this occasion to the 2022 Diamond League champion sprinter, double gold medalist silver in Tokyo 2020 and in the Oregon World Cup 2022, Marileidy Paulino.
The central words of the opening ceremony were given by the governor of the BCRD, Héctor Valdez Albizu, who said that it was a great satisfaction for him to proudly announce the sporting spirit of the entity after overcoming the effects of the pandemic.
‘Throughout our lives, we go through difficult situations, we face complex problems, unexpected events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but we bancentralians have shown that we do not give up in the face of setbacks. We recover and draw strength from the heart to create resilience and contribute with our efforts, not only to the recovery of our country, but also to consolidated growth, which already glimpses a promising future,’ said Valdez Albizu.
The inaugural ceremony, held at the Central Bank Employees Club (CEBC) softball stadium, formally began with the entrance of the music band of the Dominican Republic Navy (ARD), which was followed by the parade of the of two thousand athletes who participate in the XXV edition of these Interdepartmental Games.
The deputy governor of the BCRD, Clarissa de la Rocha de Torres, raised the national flag and the administrator of the CEBC, Katherine Roberts, did the same with the flag of the cultural and recreational center, which is the organizer of the event, while that the other directors of the other delegations also raised their respective departmental flags.
An emotional moment was experienced in the softball stadium, while an audiovisual was projected and a minute of silence was observed in memory of the deceased Víctor Vásquez, Eduardo
Alburquerque, Adonis Castillo and Gerardo Torres, who had very close links with the activities and directives of the CEBC.
After this tribute, the words of welcome were pronounced by the president of the Board of Directors (JD) of the CEBC, Benigno Alcántara Gil, who highlighted that these games mark the prelude to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Central Bank of the Republic Dominican Republic, also thanking the monetary authorities, headed by Héctor Valdez Albizu, for the unrestricted support for the assembly of this event.
The athlete Claudia Pérez, medalist in various disciplines such as billiards, bowling, tennis, softball, among others, took the sports oath.
One of the most emotional moments of the opening ceremony was the projection of an audiovisual in which the most important and successful moments of the professional career as an athlete of the native sprinter from Don Gregorio, Nizao, Peravia province, Marileidy Paulino, which managed to start the applause and cheers of the public present.
Then a plaque of recognition was given to the young Olympic and world medalist in athletics, which was read by the governor, Héctor Valdez Albizu.
‘Today you are a guide for many girls who follow you with admiration,’ Valdez Albizu said, referring to Marileidy Paulino, who urged those present to ‘not set limits or despair, but wait for God’s time,’ adding that it is more What an honor for her to serve as an example to the Dominican youth and the athletes participating in this event.
Following Paulino’s words, a fireworks show formally opened the XXV Interdepartmental Games of the Central Bank, in which they will compete in a total of 18 disciplines and activities such as chess, basketball, baseball (little league), billiards, bowling, dominoes, soccer, swimming, field tennis, table tennis, three (3K), five (5K) and 10K races, as well as in the new and modern video game attraction.
In addition to Valdez Albizu and Clarissa de la Rocha, Arturo Martínez Moya, member of the Monetary Board; Ervin Novas Bello, manager of the Central Bank; Benigno Alcántara Gil, president of the Board of the CEBC, among other officials of the entity in charge of drawing up the country’s monetary policy. Marileidy Paulino was accompanied by the president of the Dominican Athletics Federation, Gerardo Suero Correa, and the Cuban coach of the honored athlete, Yassén Pérez.
