Five Sports Ministers as VVIPs
Countdown to the South Asian Games with Dinesh
Weerawansa
SA GAMES: Only 18 days to go for the South Asian version of Olympics
- the 10th South Asian Games, to be hosted by Sri Lanka. The
eight-nation Games will be the biggest ever multi-sport event to be
hosted by Sri Lanka. Through this countdown series, the Daily News will
have a closer look at the South Asian Games, its history, local
preparations and our medal prospects.
Five Sports Ministers from South Asian Countries have confirmed their
presence in Colombo as VVIPs. An official of the NOC of Sri Lanka said
Sports Ministers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives
have already confirmed that they would be attending the Colombo 2006
Games due to commence on August 18.
Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs, Jeewan Kumaranatunga has already
invited his counterparts from the seven countries for the up coming
Games. The Sports Ministers of India and Afghanistan are yet to confirm
their participation.
In order to assure the safety of the VVIPs and over 2,000 sportsmen
and women who will be participating at the Games, a special security
program would be implemented with the support of Sri Lanka Police and
Security Forces.
Meanwhile, the Games organisers are still looking for prospective
sponsors. Despite a huge Rs. 70 million sponsorship, which include Rs.20
million on telecommunication services for the Games, from Sri Lanka
Telecom, the Finance and Sponsorship Sub-committee has been working hard
to tap a few more last minute sponsors to reduce the Government's
burden.
The sub committee, headed by Nalin Attygalle, has arranged a meeting
with the sponsors in Colombo this evening. Going back to our segment on
the history of the South Asian Games, today, let us recall memories of
the 8th SA Games in Nepal.
Fifteen years since their inaugural show as the hosts, the SA
Games came to Nepal once again when the eighth edition was worked off
in Katmandu from September 25 to October 4, 1999.
As the number of disciplines went up to 12, India won a record 197
medals out of which 102 were gold. Hosts Nepal had their best
performance to finish second with 31 gold medals while Sri Lanka were a
poor third with only 16 golds. But Pakistan suffered the biggest setback
in Katmandu with only ten gold medals and were placed fourth.
The track honours were shared by Sri Lanka's Damayanthi Darsha
(women's 100m, 200m and 400m) and Sunita Rani (women's 1,500m, 5,000m
and 10,000m) who bagged three gold medals each. Bangladesh's soccer
dream finally came true as they emerged SA champions, beating Nepal in
the final. Hosts Nepal won 14 of the 15 karate gold medals.
Except for Sri Lankan Lucky Rajasinghe's feat 50m small bore event,
India won all other 15 men's shooting finals.
Millet Nasha won a record six gold medals for India in women's
swimming while her team mates Senthil Kumar and Deepak Singh bagged two
gold medals each in men's events.
After making a clean sweep in weightlifting winning all eight gold
medals, India also emerged champions in both men's and women's
volleyball. |