Twelve sports events at SAPOG Games Oct 2 to 8

by Leslie FERNANDO

SAPOG-2008: Twelve sports events have been included for the inaugural South Asian Ports Games (SAPOG) 2008 to be held in October 2 to 8 at different venues. Competitors from all sea ports and air ports in the SAARC region will participate.

SAPOG concept is the brain child of Chamal Rajapakse, Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management. SAPOG will be held each year parallel to the SAARC summit in the host country.

Accordingly, the first-ever SAPOG Sports Festival will be held during early October. The main venue of the sports festival will be in Colombo while several games in the festival have been scheduled to be held in various parts of the country.

SAPOG-2008 includes sports events like cricket to be played at BRC Grounds, H'Park; Beach Volleyball in Negombo, Volleyball and Netball at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Hockey at Astro Turf, Reid Avenue, Carrom at the CFSL Headquarters, Colombo 7, Table Tennis and Badminton at S. Thomas' College Indoor Stadium, Mt. Lavinia, Tennis at SLTA Courts, Squash at Gymkhana Club, Colombo 7.

According to Nalin Aponso, SAPOG-2008 Sports Festival organised with the theme of 'Sports, Uniting Ports' will have over 600 sportsmen and sports women representing sea ports and air ports in the SAARC member countries.

Dilan Perera, Minister of Justice and Port Development will act as the Executive Chairman of the SAPOG-2008 Organising Committee.

All activities of the sports festival will be conducted by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd.

The official launch of SAPOG-2008 took place recently and SAPOG-2008 Project Director Nalin Attygala, Acting Chairman of SLPA, Priyath Bandu Wickrema, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Port and Aviation, Ranjith de Silva Chairman Air Port and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd.

Chandima Rasaputhra and local and foreign entrepreneurs who extend sponsorship for SAPOG-2008 graced the occasion.