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| Sunday, 20 June 2004 |
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Prime Minister and Sports Minister assure full support in hosting SA Games 2005 by Leslie Fernando "In the South Asian Federation Games we match ourselves against people of similar strength and improve our performances in a realistic and competitive manner. For this reason these games are our real yardstick. Perhaps the Executive Committee of the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) could also in the future think of organising a Junior South Asian Federation Games for competitors under 20 years of age. The Junior Games could take place in the intervening year between the South Asian Federation Games which are organized once in two years. This is of course is an idea for the future", said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the inauguration of the Executive Committee Meeting of SAOC held at the Jubilee Room of Galle Face Hotel last morning. The Prime Minister, inaugurated the first meeting of the Executive Council attended by high-powered representatives from other seven countries - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan. The Prime Minister said that after he became Prime Minsiter he has been invited by many associations and organisations to meetings where they launched special activities or marked special events. At times I have little knowledge about the association concerned or for that matter about its activities. Happily this occasion is not so because some years ago I was president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka. At the very outset, the PM expressed his thanks for having appointed him as the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the 10th edition of the SA Games in 2005 in Colombo. As the president of AAASL, the PM said that he got to know some of the problems faced by athletes in this country and the institutional framework and we have tried to resolve these problems. It also gives me some insight into some of the difficulties faced by the wider community who will participate in these games. "I therefore look upon the task you have assigned me as one that has the least about of problems, though it is the one that I have the minimum acquaintence", the PM said. Tracing the events since Independence, the sports-minded PM said that South Asian countries have participated at international level events in a variety of sports. Some of our countries have won high honours in these sports, even when we have been comparatively newcomers in participating at the international level. There are, however, some points about sports covered by the South Asian Federation Games and particularly about athletics which need emphasis. In the teams that represent our countries in events such as these, there is a wide cross-section of people from different classes of society and from different parts of the country. In comparison, as you know, the criticism in certain other games is that they are confined to cities and big towns and that they are drawn only from the middle class group. Elaborating further the PM said that he wished to state another feature. When a team goes from one country to another where the South Asian Games are held, the number of persons comprising a country's team is usually much larger than in any other sport. Each sport team is much larger than the 5 to 6 we would send to an international tennis competition or the 10 to 12 we would send for a volleyball tournament or the 14 to 15 we would send for a cricket tournament. As a result, the interaction between the visiting teams and the host country as well as between the different teams themselves is wider and more intensive. If we think of sportsmen and sportswomen as ambassadors for our countries and this is surely one of the reasons why we spend scarce resources on developing sports, there is every reason to support events like the South Asian Federation Games. Prime Minister Rajapakse added that on behalf of the Sri Lanka Government, full support will be extended towards hosting of the 2005 SA Games in Colombo. Jeevan Kumaranatunga, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said that after taking over the duties as the Minister to subjects close to his heart, he has the exceptional privilege of accepting the all-important responsibilities of hosting the 10th SAF Games in Colombo. The Sports Minister took the opportunity to recall the pleasant memories of the 5th SA Games which Sri Lanka sucfcessfully hosted in 1991 to the satisfaction of all concerned. After the successful endeavours earlier, Mr. Kumaranatunga said that he had no hesitation in accepting the kind offer from the South Asia Olympic Council to host the 10th SA Games in 2005. One would not hesitate to say that we have the experience and expertise to stage a multi-sports festival of this nature but we should not undermind the challenges ahead of us. Though we did it before, we must remember we are now in 2004 and only 14 months away from hosting the event in 2005. The passage of time has brought about changes in the technical, as well as the organisational aspects of these sports events had made the task more complexed but with the ever willing co-operation of the South Asia Olympic Council coupled with the dedicated and devoted sports loving officials of the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, the youth Minister said that it will be a truly memorable and meaningful event to be cherished by all and we will dedicate to the future generation of nations - 'The Youth'. Hemasiri Fernando, the newly elected President of the SAOC and the President of NOC of Sri Lanka said that he was specially grateful to the amiable Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse for consenting to grace this occasion as chief guest in spite of his onerous duties. His ready acceptance of the invitation was indeed a source of great encouragement to all the NOC is also grateful in equal measure to Jeevan Kumaranatunga the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports who has been a tower of strength in organizing this inauguration ceremony. Fernando added that at the close of 9th SAF Games in Islamabad, the authority of the South Asian Sports Federation which will hitherto be known as the South Asia Olympic Council which was vested with the Pakistan Olympic Association was transferred to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Fernando said that he has assumed the role of the President of the SAOC and Cdr. H. U. Silva became its General Secretary. With the transference of this authority, the responsibility of organising the 10th SA Games as they are known now fell on us. It is indeed an awful responsibility the gravity of which could be assessed by the fact that on a modest estimate the cost of organising the Games would be in the region of Rs. 500 million. "However, I am proud to state that we have no misgivings about the success of the Games as our Prime Minister and Sports Minister are extending their fullest co-operation to make this venture a success", Hemasiri Fernando said. ***** 19 disciplines at SA Games Nineteen disciplines - Athletics, Swimming, Soccer, Rifle Shooting, Badminton, Rowing, Boxing, Judo, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Karate, Kabaddi, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Squash, Wushu, Cycling and Archery will be included at the 10th edition of the South Asian Games to be held from August 15-25 next year in Colombo. This is the highest number of disciplines to be included in any of the SAF Games which started in 1982 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The felicitation ceremony in honour of veteran journalist Asoka Gunathilaka and former National Olympic Committee President Roy de Silva was held at the Galle Face Hotel yesterday. IOC awarded Asoka for 2004 Sport and Media Trophy after assessing his services in the field of sports while Silva received the 2003 Sporting Excellence Award. Roy de Silva award was receive by his nephew Ruwan Sirisena as Roy was unable to be present due to illness. (LF) |
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