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by Richard Dwight

Though getting on in years, ageing if you like, the veteran Sri Lankan athletes undeterred in spirit with that 'never give up' attitude did remarkably well, out of a contingent of 22 athletes, to win 21 medals at the 12th Asian Veteran Athletic Championships held last month in China.

In recognition and in appreciation of their resilient display abroad a ceremonial felicitation was accorded to them on Tuesday morning at the Sports Ministry.

They were all there exhibiting rare enthusiasm looking ever so sprightly sporting their blazers and medals won on earlier competitions. The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Veterans Athletic Association (SLVAA) Tissa Samarasinghe speaking on the occasion said the concept of world athletics for veterans had their origin in Canada and the Asian Veterans Athletic Association came into being in 1983 officially.

He explained that apart from providing relaxation and the much needed exercise to keep fit for the elderly through athletics, it also affords them the opportunities of participating in healthy athletic competitions here and abroad.

Tissa made the comment, that some of the timings recorded by the elderly, despite their age, compered favourably with seasoned campaigners - he was highly pleased in Sri Lanka's successful bid to host the 14th Asian Veterans Athletic Championships in the year 2006.

The Co-ordinating Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports G. G. Harischandra said that it is simply not a question of age, no matter what your age is, the weight of the medal and the colour is the same, bringing with it the same pride honour to the country affirmed Harischandra.

Whilst assuring that Minister Johnston Fernando was right behind all sportsmen and sportswomen and supportive of their interests he requested the veterans to part with their knowledge and experience to others. The Secretary to the Ministry of Sports N. G. Punchihewa who was standing in for the Sports Minister Johnston Fernando exhorted the athletes to do ever better and congratulated them all.

The President of SLVAA P. H. D. Waidyatilake said that Minister of Sports Johnston Fernando was very keen to have any competition with international flavour brought here, "let any team from any country come out here and compete" were the words of the Minister.

Waidyatilake said that with the Minister's support and assistance we hope to do our best in hosting the 14th Asian Veterans Athletic Championships here in 2006.

In the concluded 12th Asian Veteran Athletic Championships in China where 106 athletes from 21 countries took part Sri Lanka won 6 gold medals, 8 silver and 10 bronze.

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