First South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota:

Mascot and logo launched

Chinthana Wasala

The Mascot and the logo of the first ever South Asian Beach Games to be held in Hambantota from August 22 to 29, were launched at a colourful ceremony held at Galle Face Hotel yesterday. The logo was launched by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa at the ceremony.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Alutgamage, Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickramasinghe and Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee Chairman Hemasiri Fernando were also present.

The South Asian nations have been discussing to have Beach Games for nearly five years.

Sri Lanka looking forward to prove a point while biding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games planned to be held in Hambantota, will have the best opportunity in doing so when Hambantota hosts the Beach Games in August.

The games will cover a vast number of beach related sports including volleyball, football, handball, swimming, netball, beach cricket, sailing, windsurfing, kabaddi, basketball and bodybuilding.