|
|
|
| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Straight talk
South Asian Games to cost over Rs. 300 million by Lal Gunesekera A staggering amount exceeding Rs. 175 million (Rs. 175,676,234 to be exact) has been requested by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka from the Treasury through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as "Capital Budgetary Requirements" in view of the 10th South Asian Games scheduled to be staged in Sri Lanka in April next year (2006). Of this amount, a sum of Rs. 60,636,234 is for equipment for the 19 sports. This includes over Rs. 9 1/2 million for Shooting, Rs. 7,678,235 for Rowing, Rs. 4,955,000 for Wushu, Rs. 4,884,000 for Weightlifting, Rs. 4,451,880 for Judo, Rs. 5,000,000 for Athletics, Rs. 3,404,500 for Karate, Rs. 2,926,000 for Squash, Rs. 2,466,000 for Wrestling, Rs. 2,000,000 for Swimming, Rs. 1,910,000 for Table Tennis, Rs. 1,715,000 for Kabaddi, Rs. 1,854,500 for Badminton, Rs. 1,635,000 for Archery, Rs. 1,444,500 for Boxing, Rs. 1,235,734 for Cycling, Rs. 206,300 for Taekwondo, Rs. 200,000 for Volleyball and Rs. 100,000 for Soccer. For training equipment alone Rs. 35 million is sought, while for the development of six venues a sum of Rs. 25,750,000 has been requested. The breakdown for this purpose is Rs. 8 million for the Welisara Shooting Range, Rs. 7 million for the Rifle Shooting Training Centre at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Rs. 5 million for the Royal College gymnasium, Rs. 3 million for the University of Colombo, Rs. 2,270,000 for the Bolgoda Lake and University of Moratuwa and Rs. 480,000 for the St. Joseph's College Gymnasium. A sum of Rs. 7 1/2 million has been budgetted for the Media Centre at the Sugathadasa Stadium Sports Hotel and for the 'improvement' of the hotel itself, while a sum of Rs. 3,200,000 is for medical equipment and alterations to the Medical Centre. An amount of Rs. 2 million is for a pavilion for a 200 metre "warm up track" at the Sugathadasa Stadium (the (SNSCA) Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority are unaware of this), while the NOC itself has quoted an amount of Rs. 40 million for an "Indoor Sports Complex". There is also a quotation for Rs. 25,590,000 as estimated custom duty (30 per cent) for sports and medical equipment. Thus, the grand total reads Rs. 175,676,234, while yet another sum of Rs. 22 million has been quoted for next year (2006). Oh my God, what extravagance! What is the total cost of the "Games" going to be finally? So, the grand total for the Games amount to a staggering Rs. 197,676,234. The final cost for the "Games" is going to reach over Rs. 250 to Rs. 300 million which will also include transport, meals, accommodation and various other expenses involved in staging an event of this magnitude. I understand that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have approved these quotations and that the Treasury have already released a sum of Rs. 15 million so far. Bandwagon to China The Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Ranugge, and its Director-General, Milton Amarasinghe, had accompanied two NOC big-wigs Hemasiri Fernando and Cmdr (rtd) H. U. Silva to Guangzhow in China last week for the 33rd General Assembly and 44th Executive Board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia. Also in the bandwagon were Gamini Jayasinghe and C. N. Thubuwewatha, and I wonder in what capacity Ranugge and Amarasinghe of the Ministry went to China? Who paid for their trip? Who are they? Speculations will end soon with the Indian Police expected to complete their investigations "within the next few weeks" into the betting scandal involving a "leading Sri Lanka record breaking bowler" and a popular Indian bar dancer named Tarannum Khan (better known as Tannu) on an Indian win at the recent Indian Oil Cup triangular final with Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. A local sleuth told me that his Indian counterparts have nearly completed their investigations into this affair and that the identity of the Sri Lankan bowler is known and will be revealed once the investigations are completed. Tannu had made a bet for Rs. 15 million only to see Sri Lanka beat India. She had maintained a "close relationship" with the Lankan and had also close links with the Indian underground betting industry. The Indian Police had discovered SMS messages from bookies on Tannu's mobile phone and that she was a "front" for high powered clients during the triangular series which also included West Indies. Another Sri Lankan cricketer, a former captain, too is alleged to have had links with Tannu at the Deepa Dance Bar in Mumbai and his identity too will be known soon. The two Sri Lankan cricketers had visited Tannu at the Deepa Dance Bar often, and a couple of years back, when the Police raided the bar, the two Sri Lankans and a well known Bollywood actor, had escaped via the kitchen. The Lankans used to spend anything between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 on each visit to the Bar. When Tannu's luxury residence was raided, they found Rs. 10 million in cash, jewellery worth Rs. 3 million too which were seized. Now, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit too have moved into this investigation and the entire cricketing world is anxiously waiting to see the final outcome. The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit are yet probing into the Rs. 1.1 million found in Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu's room at the Earl's Regency Hotel in Kandy in December 2003 when England were playing Sri Lanka in the Second Test at the Asgiriya Stadium. Atapattu denied that the money found in his room was his, but the ACU sleuths refused to "buy the story" and the probe is yet going on. They are determined to get to the bottom of this story too. Lets wait and see the final outcome of these investigations before passing judgement! Rs 6 million outstanding It looks as if Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are certainly short of funds. They owe the Sugathadasa Stadium Sports Complex Authority (SSSCA) a tidy sum of Rs. 6 million for bulbs that were fixed to the "Floodlight Towers" at the Premadasa Stadium for the recent Indian Oil Cup Triangular between Sri Lanka, India and West Indies. These bulbs had been purchased by the SSSCA from Dimo and, Roche and Company at a cost of Rs. 4 million and Rs. 2 million respectively, and I understand that these two establishments are contemplating taking the SSSCA to courts over the non-payment. A further sum of Rs. 6 million is due to the SSSCA from SLC for the hiring of the Premadasa Stadium for the Indian Oil Cup. Disheartened rowers Knowledgeable personalities with decades of experience have been kept out, instead of utilising their services by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL). Why? The Nationals were conducted recently on the waters of the Beira Lake and certain observations were made. At previous Nationals boats were made available to the rowers by the ARASL, but now what happens? The rowers who do not possess boats of their own, are dependent on those who possess them. Also, there were no qualified umpires and the lanes were not properly demarcated. What were the reasons for these lapses? Another unfair occurrence was that the young lasses from Musaeus had to race against one of their own teams in the opening race. The other is about equipment failure. Within the first 30 seconds of a race, any crew can call on "equipment failure." A seat of one boat came out within this period, but the officials did not stop the race with the Launch Umpire saying it was not equipment failure and to "carry on." If this is not equipment failure, what is? Then there were the intermediate level children who had to row against those who were much senior to them. Unreasonable is it not? There must be events for Under-18, Under-20 etc. At international meets, it's either age or weight categories and why doesn't the ARASL follow suit? ARASL, please consider these in future. Congrats Kandy! Congratulations Kandy Sports Club for winning the Caltex League rugby title for the fifth consecutive year since 2001. They won it earlier in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1999 too - 9th time in 12 years. They also won the Caltex Clifford Cup for the seventh consecutive year - the 12th occasion in 14 years, having won it earlier in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997 too. Led by winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and coached by New Zealander Bruce Robertson, Kandy won 12 of their 13 games in the league, losing only to CR & FC (8-20) in the first-round at Longdon Place. In the Clifford Cup, they beat Air Force (68-8) in the "quarters," Army in the "semis" and CH & FC in the final. They have been dominating the local rugby scene since the early 1990s when former Royal College, CR & FC and Sri Lanka scrum-half, Malik Samarawickreme (he was President of the SLRFU too), moving over to the hill capital to promote rugby in the region. However, the authorities at Nittawela must see that their over enthusiastic supporters behave themselves much better when playing at "home" and not throw various objects at visiting players and officials, which only brings disrepute to their club. The Referees Society must see that their referees are physically fit before appointing them to "blow" at crucial games. The referee at the CR vs CH game (semi-final of the Clifford Cup) was not so and could not keep pace with the game. He was not in a position to see the "genuine pass" which ended in a try for CR and blew for a "forward pass" to the utter amazement of those spectators who saw the move. This proved crucial and CR lost, though they played badly and did not deserve to win. The SLRFU must also try to promote the game in other areas instead of continuing to play the Clifford Cup games where Kandy is involved in Kandy. This has caused much heart burn by many. They must attempt to play this tournament in Galle, Badulla and even Radella. I am certain that other clubs will agree. This year's tournaments (both league and knock-out) saw spectators returning to the game unlike previous years and the sponsors Caltex must be really happy with this trend. I hope it will continue. However, the SLRFU, must think seriously about a demotion/promotion scheme as the standards of certain teams playing in the 'A' division are certainly not upto standards. Please look into this seriously. High prices of tickets The prices of tickets at certain school rugby matches this year seems to be very unreasonable and out of reach of many. Imagine paying Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 for a seat and Rs. 100 to watch a game standing. It's far too much. Even clubs do not charge so much. Certainly there are
expenses involved like hiring of chairs, printing of tickets etc., but the
school authorities must not "over tax" the poor spectators. What if they
once again decide to skip matches? |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
