50m Prime Minister's fund launched by the NOC
ALMOST CERTAIN OF THE POST
The struggle is on to select a national coach for a popular women’s sport. After several interviews the selected candidate’s name has been put forward to the body that is in charge of all sports. Insiders say that this candidate is almost certain of obtaining the post as she is a relation of a former big shot in the sport, who still yields a certain amount of power with the sport’s administration.
MOTORSPORTS, THE BIG SILENCE
Usually there are a host of complaints at motorsports meet but at a meet held in the outstations recently, there were no complaints at all! The reason for this, observers say, is that a top rider did not take part in the meet and most of the complaints usually come from this particular rider who wants to be in the winning list all the time. Since he did not take part in the meet, there had been no complaints and all were happy.
Sri Lankan sport is on its way to good times courtesy the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka has worked out deal where the ultimate benefactor would the athletic community of Sri Lanka.
A special Prime Minister’s Sports Fund with an initial allocation of Rs. 50 million has been created and the funds will be presented to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka on Tuesday. It will target high-performance athletes who have a realistic chance of winning medals at international Games for the country.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the cheque to Suresh Subramaniam; president of the NOC of Sri Lanka, at a ceremony at Temple Trees to meet the 184-strong athletic contingent (29 sports) bound for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang later this month.
“This is a massive boost for local sport. For the very first time, the government of Sri Lanka is rolling
THE FORGED DOCUMENT
An alleged forged document for the transaction of a large sum of money by the women’s body of a top sport has caused a lot of concern. The ugly situation was brought under control when the alleged forger had apologised, preventing a lot of heartburn and embarrassment.
WHO IS TRYING TO FOOL WHOM?
The women’s sport which is causing a lot of concern these days had made a tour to a nearby up its sleeves and getting involved in sport. This is just the start for we have been assured of more funds in the future. There will be an annual provision for sports,” revealed an elated Subramaniam.
The financial bonanza will be used solely on athletes who show the potential to win the country honours at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games. “This money will not be spent on the development of athletes. We know grass roots development is key but that is not our job. That is the role of the national federations. Our focus will be on helping elite athletes realise their medal dreams by giving them all assistance from coaching and technical assistance to nutrition and sports medic in e , ” Subramaniam added. A committee chaired by Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister, will be set up to oversee this project. The committee will also include Dinesh Weerakkody, chairman of Hatton National Bank country which is ranked sixth according to World Rankings, as not a single victory has been recorded so far. The media were not aware of this tour. It is of note that Sri Lanka is 26th according to World Rankings. Whom are the organisers trying to fool?
NO TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT YET
It is almost certain that the team to take part in ladies Asian Tournament next month, has been selected but it has not been announced as a player who was to be put into the team, a favourite of the management, was not included in it. The story is that the persons considered and close aide to the Prime Minister, Maxwell de Silva, secretary general of the NOC of Sri Lanka, as well as one senior official each from the Ministry of Sport, Treasury and President’s Secretariat.
“This fund will be a huge help for talented athletes,” said NOC’s De Silva. “There are a lot of young talent, especially from outside Colombo, who have no access to funds. For example, this will allow them to just focus on training instead of having to worry about how to find money to buy nutrients.”
The initial goal according to De Silva will be to identify two or three sports which have the best chance to win glory at international multi-sports Games.
“We can’t look at all 31 sports under our umbrella. That will be to be in charge of the team, had been unable to put her into the team and as such, until she is in the team, the team will not be released to the media! unrealistic right now. The way forward is to target a few sports which have the best chance and help those athletes who show promise. We can also look at individual athletes who have hit the limelight in other sports and help them on an individual basis,” De Silva added.
The long- term goal of the National Olympic Committee is to use the Prime Minister’s Sports Fund to set up an elite sports academy styled on perhaps the Australian Institute of Sports which is focused on giving the best sportsmen and women the chance to vie for Olympic glory.
“That will be our long-term plan, setting up a high- performance academy under our jurisdiction,” Subramaniam revealed. “We will need the government as well as the business community to get behind this goal. But this is a good start.”
“We can’t look at all 31 sports under our umbrella. That will be unrealistic right now. The way forward is to target a few sports which have the best chance and help those athletes who show promise. We can also look at individual athletes who have hit the limelight in other sports and help them on an individual basis,” De Silva added.