The Hindu : Sport : State team for National Games insured

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
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Sport - Sports : General

State team for National Games insured

Principal Correspondent

Bangalore : The Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA) has insured its 400-strong contingent, scheduled to participate in the 33rd National Games at Guwahati from February 9 to 18. The KOA president K. Govindaraj made the announcement at a formal function here on Friday evening. "It is a first for us as we have insured all our athletes for Rs. 2 lakhs each. We wish the athletes the very best and hope they return with a rich medal haul. There is a lot of apprehension amidst athletes and their parents because of the tension in Assam but I would like to assure you that all our athletes will be safe," Govindaraj said.

K.C. Ramamurthy, Commissioner, Department of Youth Services and Sports, assuaged fears about militancy. "I have reports from the police officials from Assam and they have assured us of fool-proof security for all our athletes." They were speaking during the course of a function in which kitbags were given to the athletes.

However, the most heartening note of the evening was struck by Alkod Hanumanthappa, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. "I assure you that our Government will pay the cash incentives that are due to those medal-winning athletes from the last Nationals held at Hyderabad. The payments will be made during the course of the Ekalavya awards function. We have also hiked the cash incentives for this National Games. It is Rs. 20,000 for gold, Rs. 15,000 (silver) and Rs. 10,000 (bronze) and in the team events it will be Rs. 10,000 (gold), Rs. 7,000 (silver) and Rs. 5,000 (bronze)," the minister said.

The key officials and the flag-bearer were also named during the course of the function. Officials: Chef-de-Mission: G.N. Sathyanarayana; Dy. Chef-de-Mission: Kempanarasimhaiah; Secretary-cum-treasurer: Chandrahasa Rai; Flag-bearer: Shikha Tandon.

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