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Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has stepped into settle what appears to be a mysterious move by the Rugby World Cup organisers in Dublin to prevent the Singapore - Sri Lanka match being played in Colombo.
Mr. Kadirgamar, a onetime Trinity College wing-three quarter, told a delegation from the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) that met him yesterday morning that he thought there was some 'hanky panky' going on and that he would use his good offices to ensure the World Cup match between the two countries was played here.
Late last year Directors of the Rugby World Cup tournament wrote to then SLRFU saying they had sought the advice of the British Foreign office in London, the British High Commission in Colombo and the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on the security situation in Colombo.
Having deliberated deeply the Directors said they had considered the 'security' of players cannot be guaranteed and requested the SLRFU to play Singapore in Singapore or another neutral Asian country.
The Singapore - Sri Lanka match was due to be played on January 18 in Colombo but was put off for next month due to Dublin's fiat, the SLRFU then sought the advice of the Sports Ministry which in turn referred the matter to the Foreign Ministry.
Yesterday SLRFU President Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, Anton Benedict and SSP Lal Jayasundera met Mr. Kadirgamar and were told the Foreign Ministry had already ascertained from Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in London, S.K Wickramasinghe and Britain's High Commissioner in Colombo David Tatham that no advice had been sought from either of them about the security situation in Colombo by the Rugby World Cup organisers in Dublin.
Mr Kadirgamar told the delegation that Mr. Wickremasinghe had also been informed by the British Foreign Office that the Dublin based organisation had not asked its advice on the security situation in Colombo and how safe it would be.
Mr. Kadirgamar told the delegation, Mr Tatham had informed him that the British High Commissioner in Colombo, in fact supported sports in Sri Lanka.
Last night Mr. Kadirgamar told 'The Sunday Times' it was worrying to see how the Rugby World Cup organisers could have sent such a letter to the SLRFU saying they had asked for advice from all these bodies when in fact they had not.
He said what concerned him was whether there is some lobby at work, citing the incident where Australia and the West Indies did not come to play in Colombo during the Cricket World Cup tournament.
The Foreign Minister said he would be communicating with the Rugby World Cup organisers on this matter and asking them how they came to the conclusion that Colombo was unsafe for the fixture and how they claim to say they have asked the British Foreign Office, the British mission in Colombo and the Sri Lanka envoy in London for their opinions when all three of them denied having been asked. He will request the organisers to change their decision, he said.
SLRFU President Dr. Gunesekara said they were up beat after convincingly defeating Thailand last week and were prepared to play Singapore anywhere - even in Singapore.
However he said the matter has now been in the hands of the Sports Ministry and Foreign Ministry and the SLRFU would comply with whatever they decided.
In a diplomatic move, Mr. Kadirgamar yesterday also wrote to Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jeyakumar asking the Singapore government to intervene in a matter where he said, patent falsehoods had been uttered by Rugby World Cup organisers, and some subtle mischief might be involved.
He appealed to the Singapore Government to request the country's team to go ahead with the match in Colombo, assuring that full security would be provided.
On February 18, the Rugby World Cup organisers in a letter to the SLRFU said:
"I refer to the Singapore - Sri Lanka game due to be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
"We have sought the advice of the British Foreign Office, the British mission in Colombo and the Sri Lankan mission in the UK and the overwhelming decision is that the match should not be played in Sri Lanka at this time due to the fact that the security of the players cannot be guaranteed.
"The Directors insist that your Union be given the opportunity of deciding whether the match is now played in a neutral country in Asia of your choice or to be hosted by Singapore RFU".
Brian Skirrow, RWC Tournaments Co-ordinator
The SLRFU in a letter to the Rugby World cup organisers dated Jan 16, 97 said:
"It is with great concern that we view the reasoning behind the postponement of the World Cup Rugby encounter between Singapore and Sri Lanka on a request made by Singapore Rugby Union. Furthermore, we regret that the communication of the postponement was received by us only on the eve of their arrival in Sri Lanka.
"If the Singapore Rugby Union had given us notice and had communicated with us, we would have intimated to them the actual situation and reasoned out the safe atmosphere prevalent in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which would have avoided this unfortunate postponement. It is indeed surprising that a postponement was agreed to as an alternative to a walkover in our favour. However, since the RWC is of the view a postponement should be given, we are agreeable to the postponement.
"We would be obliged if the RWC issues necessary instructions to the Singapore Rugby Union to play this match in the first week of March in Sri Lanka, with a clause that any postponement would be treated as a walk-over as done by the International Cricket Council with Australia and the West Indies, when they refused to come to Sri Lanka for the World Cup Cricket Tournament. It is noteworthy to mention here that Australia visited Sri Lanka one month afterwards and had a stay of over two weeks, when they took part in the Singer World Cup Cricket Tournament.
We would urge you to contact the British High Commission or the American Embassy in Sri Lanka to verify about the security situation in Colombo."
Mr. Kadirgamar in a letter to Singapore's Foreign Minister S. Jeyakumar yesterday states:
I am sorry to have to trouble you on a matter that might appear to you at first glance to be merely a question of sport. But to the Government of Sri Lanka the matter in question is serious because the reputation of Sri Lanka has been severely tarnished.
It has now been conclusively established (as you will see from my High Commissioner's fax to me from London and the letter to me from the British High Commissioner in Colombo) that it is totally false for the World Cup Coordinators to say that advice was sought from the British Foreign Office, the British High Commission in Colombo and the Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom. In fact advice was not sought from any of these bodies. Therefore there cannot possibly be an "overwhelming decision" that the match should not be played in Sri Lanka at this time due to the fact that the security of the players cannot be guaranteed.
On the contrary the British authorities have gone out of their way to state that they are entirely supportive of the staging of sporting events in Sri Lanka.
The cancellation of Colombo as the venue of this match on the ground stated is a matter of deep concern to the Government of Sri Lanka, especially since the reason given by the World Cup Coordinators is so blatantly false giving rise to the possible speculation that there might be parties at work who intend to create deliberate mischief.
In all these circumstances, I request you to use your good offices to persuade the Singapore Rugby Union to change its attitude to the question of playing the match in Colombo and to agree to Colombo being the venue as originally decided.
For my part I can give you an assurance that the Government of Sri Lanka will take every possible measure to ensure that the match is played under conditions which guarantee the safety of players. In recent months we have conducted major cricket tournaments which have lasted many days with complete success so far as security was concerned. International meetings and other events are regularly held in Colombo. It would not give us any difficulty at all to organise security for a Rugby match that will only last a little more than an hour.
I look forward, to receiving your kind co-operation in this matter which is of grave concern to my Government.
High Commissioner S. K. Wickremesinghe in London in a letter to Minister Kadirgamar on Thursday said:
"We have spoken to Caroline Elmes as well as the other staff of the South Asia division of the British Foreign Office, and they have categorically stated that they had not at any time given any advice to rugby body in the UK or elsewhere, against playing matches in Sri Lanka".
Caroline Elmes was absolutely certain that such information could not have been given by the foreign office. She went on to say that the British Foreign Office was supportive of the staging of sporting events in Sri Lanka and said that at the time the Australians were refusing to play their world cup cricket matches in Colombo, they had firmly supported Sri Lanka. She has also informed me that no other division in the foreign office would have given this advice without consulting the South Asia division.
"I have also checked with all the members of the diplomatic staff and also with the member of the non-diplomatic staff to whom inquiries of a general nature are referred. They have stated that none of them had been approached by a rugby body or anybody else regarding the situation in Sri Lanka or the advisability of playing a match in Colombo.
"I have requested Con Howard, our Honorary Consul in Dublin, to get in touch with Brian Skirrow, the RWC tournament co-ordinator and discuss this matter with him. I have asked Con Howard to specifically state that neither the British foreign office, whom we have contacted, nor any member of our staff had been approached by his organisation or anybody else regarding the situation or condition in Sri Lanka.
'We would have told them to come' says British Envoy
British High Commissioner David Tatham in a letter to Foreign Minister Kadirgamar on Friday said: "I have just received your letter of today's date about the proposed visit of the Singapore Rugby team.
" I can confirm that no advice was sought from the British High Commission on this question.
"If we had been asked we would have supported any decision by a friendly team to visit Colombo. In fact, as I mentioned to you, we have just held a very successful meeting of British Consular and visa officials from all over Asia in a Colombo hotel.
"I wish you every success in persuading the Singapore rugby team to visit Colombo. I am sure they will receive the same cordial Sri Lankan hospitality that we all enjoy".
Cricket
luverly cricket! It's the greatest game in the world. This was what Bruce
Yardley said when he started his interview with the 'Sunday Times' last
week.
About the Sri Lankan team, Yardley said he noticed they were in top form when they stripped down for workouts in the swimming pool with Alex Kontouri. Yardley said about Dave Whatmore that he never tried to find out why Dave quit. So he is here with an open mind. In fact, Dave wished him all the best when he was leaving Australia.
The Sri Lankan team are the World One-day cricket champions, Yardley said, and he was proud to have to coach such a team. 'They are fantastic' he said, although there has been a playing slump recently.
About Sri Lanka's aim to become World Test Cricket champions by the year 2000, Yardley said that it was good to have such an ambition. Lanka can make it, since they had already beaten a few of the Test playing nations like Pakistan and New Zealand.
With players like Romesh Kaluwitharana, who has scored 1000 runs this season in domestic games, Ruwan Kalpage who is fighting for a place, and Naveed Nawaz, there is plenty of talent to achieve the Test champion ambition. There are also five quick bowlers who will be our main weapons when we play in New Zealand.
The Sri Lanka Under 19 XI made a bold reply with 91 for the loss of two wickets in reply to India's 392 all out on the second day of the Second Unofficial Test at the Welagedera Stadium yesterday.
India, resuming from 255 for 7 were all out for 392 with Ajith Agarkar top scoring with a fluent 94 while Mithun Manhas stroked a quickfire 38.
In Lanka's innings of 91 for 2 at the close Shantha Kalawitigoda was unbeaten on 30 while Upeka Fernando was out for a well compiled 36.
The other batsmen to get out were Chintaka Jayasinghe (zero) while Kumara Sangakkara was unbeaten on 9.
India - 392, overnight 255 for 7, (Ajith Agarkar 94, Mithun Manhas 38; Hemantha Boteju 2 for 72, Dilhara Fernando 2 for 66, Indika Konara 2 for 10).
Sri Lanka - 91 for 2 at close
Ruchira Paliyaguru and Bateesha de Silva claimed four wickets each as Bloomfield tightened their grip and looked well set to snatch an outright victory over Singha SC in a P Sara Trophy game at Reid Avenue yesterday.
After hitting an imposing 419/8 declared in the first innings Bloomfield bowled out their opponents for 216 runs. Palliyaguru(4/45) and De Silva (4/47) were the chief wicket takers for the home side.Trailng by 203 runs the visitors were forced to follow on and were 52/1 at the close.
Half centuries by Lanka de Silva (50),Hiran Liyanage (56),and Samantha Guruge (66) helped Kurunegala YCC to a challenging 263 all out against SSC at Maitland Place yesterday.
The visitors who were invited to take first lease on a perfect batting track were precariously placed at 115/6 at one stage. But a defiant 75 run stand for the 9 th wicket between Samantha Guruge (66) and Rajitha Amunugama (41) helped the visitors to pass the 250 run mark.
Earlier Lanka de Silva and Hiran Liyanage made use of some sloppy fielding to complete half centuries.
Duminda Wickremasinghe (63) and Upekha Samarawickrema(61 n o) stroked half centuries as Galle CC were on their way to a surprise first innings victory over Tamil Union.
In reply to Tamil Unions first innings score of 285 ,Galle were well placed at 229/5 by the close.
Niroshan Bandaratileke was the pick of the Tamil Union bowlers claiming 4/65
At Reid Avenue : Bloomfield vs Singha SC
Bloomfield - 419/8 decl( Bateesha de Silva 62 Priyankara Wickremasinghe 39 C Chryshantha 3/48)
Singha SC - 216 -(Janaka Kumudu 48 S Gayan 43 T Achintha 47 Ruchira Paliyaguru 4/.45 Battesha de Silva 4/47 R L Perera2/65) & 52/1 (S Gayan 26 n o T Achintha 20 n o )
At Maitland Place : SSC vs Kurunegala YCC
Kurunegala YCC - 263 (Lanka de Silva 50 Hiran Liyanage 56 Samantha Guruge 66 Rajitha Amunugama 41 Samantha Dodanwela 4/46 Jayantha Silva 2/38 Rochana Jayawardene 3/56)
SSC - 5/0
At the Oval : Tamil Union vs Galle CC
Tamil Union - 285
Galle CC - 229/5 - (Samantha Jayakody 32 J Sudarshana 24 Duminda Wickremasinghe 63 Upekha Samarawickrema 61 n o Niroshan Bandaratileke 4/65)
Panadura SC were badly placed at 41/4 in reply to Kalutara TC 'S first innings total of 203 all out.
Overnight rain caused a delayed start yesterday with play commencing only at 3.30 p m .
Kalutara TC -203 (N Tilekaratne 78 P perera 43 I Amilakeerthi 5/6 I Gallage 2/33 S Kumara 2/49)
Panadura SC - 41/4 (B Perera 30 n o P Perera3/13)
A hurricane 99 by Manjula Fernando of St. Sebastian's was the highlight of their drawn Inter-School cricket match against Wesley at Campbell Park yesterday.
Manjula's score included two sixes and eleven boundaries in even deliveries. His innings ended when A. Gunewardena took a hard catch at midoff, off the bowling of Karunaratne.
Wesley were all out for 158 in reply to St. Sebastian's first innings total of 146 for 9 declared. In the second innings St. Sebastian's were 209 for five in 50 overs.
St. Sebastian's - 146 for 9 (B.Mendis 54, S.Silva 24, A.Mendis 58, M.Fernando 17; S. Senadheera 4 for 13, C. Jayakody 3 for 40, M. Karunaratne 2 for 34) and209 for 5 (Nalin Wijesinghe 34, Manjula Fernando 99, Lakmal Fernando 25 n.o; A. Gunewardena 3 for 45).
Wesley - 158 (D.Jayakody 38, J.Johar 26, C.Siriwardena 46; L. Fernando 5 for 60, D.Seneviratne 4 for 48)
Two good knocks by Roshan Weeraratne (57) and Roshan Mapatuna (41 n.o) of S.Thomas' Mt. Lavinia were the highlights of their drawn Inter-School cricket match with Trinity at the Asgiriya Stadium yesterday.
S.Thomas' - 210 for 7 dec (Roshan Weeratne 57, Roshan Mapatuna 41 n.o, V. Paramasivam 22, J. Siriwardena 22; S. Moratota 2 for 42, N. Ekanayake 2 for 57, S.Fernando 2 for 74) and 23 for no loss.
Trinity - 249 for 9 dec (Indika Gunawardena 60, Sudanga Fernando 50, Rodney de Raffayal 24, H.Jayasinghe 27, S.Moratota 29; Roshan Mapatuna 4 for 72) and 63 for 5 (Rodney de Raffayal 30 n.o; Naren Ratwatte 2 for 5, G.Fernando 2 for 18)
This
historic stamp issue features cricketing great, Sir Donald Bradman, a living
Australian for the first time. As part of Australia Day celebrations. The
Australian Post has instituted the Australian Legends Award to honour a
prominent Australian.
Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest cricketer ever to
play the game was honoured in his country recently when Australian Post
issued two stamps in his name. It was a historic event because it was the
first time that a living Australian was featured in an Australian stamp.
On Australia Day 1997 - January 26, Australian Post instituted the Australian Legends Award to honour a prominent countryman. Sir Donald was the first Australian to be thus honoured with the issue of two 45 c stamps, one featuring his portrait and the other an action shot. Now in his 89th year, Sir Donald was honoured last year by the Royal Australian Mint with the release of a $5 special coin. Acknowledging him as one of Australia's most respected sportsmen, the Australian Mint announced that the issue of the special coin was a special tribute to Sir Donald.
'The Don', as he is popularly known, was Australia's great cricket hero - the man who on his first tour of England in 1930 created a Test record at Leeds by hitting a century before lunch, another between lunch and tea and finished the day with an unbeaten 309. He finished with 334 the next morning in 375 minutes which included 46 fours.(The first day cover featured him going out to bat on the first day at this Test). His knock was followed by 232 in the Oval Test and he ended that season with an aggregate of 974 (139.14).
A few years later, during the English tour of Australia in 1932-33, the English team introduced bodyline bowling to combat his remarkable talents. Yet he ended with a higher average than anyone from either side - 56.57.
Four runs in his last innings would have given Sir Donald a Test aggregate of exactly 7,000 and an average of 100. Instead he ended with an extraordinary test average of 99.94 runs. When he retired in 1949, he had scored a century in every third innings in first class cricket and his 52 Tests for Australia produced 2 triple hundreds, 5 double and 22 centuries. He was once left short of partners at 299 in a Test against South Africa.
'Wills Book of Excellence on Cricket' relates how during the course of an innings at Blackheath Sir Donald got a century in 3 overs. "When Bradman was around 50, an off spinner called Bill Black, who had bowled him in a previous match, was introduced for a repeat. While Black was arranging his field, Bradman spoke to the wicket keeper Leo Waters. 'What sort of bowler is this fellow?' enquired Bradman. 'Don't you remember this bloke?' replied Waters. 'He bowled you in an exhibition match in Lithgow a few weeks ago and has been boasting about it ever since at your expense'.
"Two overs later, nursing an analysis of 2-0-62-0, Black was pleading with his captain to be taken off".
Emirates, the international airline of the UAE, once again supports the annual European PGA Dubai Desert Classic as the Official Carrier of this prestigious golf tournament.
The 1997 Dubai Desert Classic, with a prize £700,000, is under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE's Defence Minister and Crown Prince of Dubai DUBAL (Dubai Aluminium) is the main sponsor and Dubai World Trade Centre is the organiser.
The tournament takes place at Dubai's championship course at the Emirates Golf Club from February 25 to March 2. Emirates has been the official carrier and co-sponsor since the first tournament in 1989.
Emirates' Chairman, HH Sheikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktour said, "Emirates support for the Dubai Desert Classic is part of our efforts in promoting Dubai as an International sporting venue.
"Together with DUBAL and the organisers, Dubai World Trade Centre, Emirates is committed to the continued success of this tournament. We have seen the tournament grow both in size and stature to rank as one of the most important on the international golfing calendar.
"Emirates is delighted to be the official carrier for many of the celebrity golfers and officials who will convene from all corners of the world to Dubai".
Colin Montgomerie, defending champion, will lead a star-studded line-up that will include Australian Greg Norman, Welshman Ian Wosnam, Germany's Bernhard Langer and Spain's Seve Ballesteros.
DWTC has also confirmed an Asian PGA contingent of golfers who include Thailand's Sriroj Thammanon and Marksaeng Prayad, South Korea's Kang Wook-Soon, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, Taiwan's Chang Tse Peng, the Philippines' Felix Casas, Singapore's Samson Gimson and USA's Gerry Norquist.
This makes the 1997 tournament one of the most international in the Classic's history paralleled by Emirates' expanding network to more destinations east and west of Dubai.
Apart from its official airline status, Emirates is also sponsoring Singapore's top professional golfer Samson Gimson, who makes his fourth appearance at the Desert Classic since 1993.
Emirates, winner of over 100 international awards flies to 41 destinations across the world.
Apart from the Dubai Desert Classic Emirates is a keen supporter of other major sports events ranging from equestrian meets to rugby.
Emirates is the sole title race sponsor of the US $4 million Dubai World Cup which takes place on March 29. The airline is also regularly present at UK's Newmarket, Curragh and Ascot and Longchamp in France.
The 14th National Regatta Championships conducted by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) will be rowed from February 26 to March 1 on the Beira Lake at the Colombo Rowing Club.
Over 100 oarsmen, including ladies, from the Colombo Rowing Club, S. Thomas' College, Royal College, Colombo University, Moratuwa University and the latest addition to the ARASL, St. Joseph's Maradana will be in the water.
The Senior Races for fours, pairs and sculls will be rowed over a distance of one mile.
The Intermediate, Junior and Ladies Races fours, pairs and sculls will be rowed over 1000 metres. In addition the schoolboys sculls event and, for the first time, an under 16 pairs event will also be rowed over 1000 metres.
The reigning champions of this annual regatta are S. Thomas' College with 56 points overall. The trophies to be won at the regatta are:
1 - F.H. Gerry Silva Challenge Trophy to the overall winners,
2 - Colombo Rowing Club Centenary Trophy for senior events,
3 - Eraj Wijesinghe challenge Trophy for the intermediate events,
4 - Nalin Mendis Challenge Trophy for junior events,
5 - Schoolboy Sculler Trophy.
The chief guest will be past President and founder member of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka, F.H. Gerry Silva. (AF)
While all cricket lovers applaud the services currently rendered by Lionel, it will be base ingratitude, if we now forget the good work done most enthusiastically by Percy over a period of time long before we became World Champions. Is it a national failing for Sri Lankans to forget the past?
The Sri Lanka team armed with five medium pacers left for New Zealand yesterday, to take on the Kiwis in two tests and three one-day Internationals on a tour which would serve as an acid test for the world champions.
Eager to extend their dominance in the established game, Sri Lanka have over 30 Tests lined-up in the next two and half years against virtually all test playing nations. Thus the Kiwi tour will serve as a lung-opener to the islanders who begin their march towards becoming the best Test playing nation at the turn of the century.
For the first time Sri Lanka will rely more on their medium pacers rather than the spinners to get the better of their opponents. With New Zealand's summer conditions more conducive to swing bowling and the fact that Chaminda Vaas wrecked the Kiwis in Lanka's last tour, the selectors' decision to pick five medium pacers is justified.
Vaas will be joined by two other left-armers, Nuwan Soyza and Sajeewa Silva and the experienced Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Ravindra Pushpakumara to complete the five pronged pace attack.
Promising youngster Nuwan Soyza looks the most lethal of them all, and according to Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Coach Bruce Yardley the teenager is bound to have his hands full on his maiden tour. Standing over 6 ft. tall, the Isipathana schoolboy has already troubled most local batsmen with the extra pace and bounce he generates with his deliveries.
"He is just fantastic and will be used sparingly'' is how Coach Yardley spoke of Lanka's newest find.
Roshan Mahanama will pair up with Sanath Jayasuriya to open the innings in the Tests while Romesh Kaluvitharana will bat at number seven. Mavan Attapattu will fill in the void created by Asanka Gurusinha, while De Silva, Ranatunga and Tilekeratne will form the backbone of Lanka's batting. With Vaas and Dharmasena to follow, Sri Lanka's batting looks formidable as ever.
Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga will reach yet another milestone in his illustrious cricket career which has already spanned over one-and-a-half decades. Ranatunga who has already played 63 tests, (Captaining 36) will be the first Sri Lankan to play 200 one-day Internationals when he plays the second one-day against New Zealand. The 33-year old has captained Sri Lanka in 122 one-dayers.
Not only are his achievements unparalleled in Sri Lanka's history, but the captain is slowly closing in on some of the greatest ever players.
With their sights set on being the best Test playing nation by the year 2000, and New Coach Bruce Yardley determined to prove his mettle, the Lankan team is raring to go and repeat their match- winning performance in Kiwi land.
"Citius, Altius, Fortius - translated into English means: Swifter, Higher, Stronger - the perennial Motto of the Modern Olympic Games - envisioned by the French Aristocrat Founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, around the beginning of the Second millennium. For all Olympic competitors, the Olympic Games is the ultimate GOAL in Olympic Sports.
Years of arduous training, steadfast dedication, and uncompromising sacrifice, together bring out these elite athletes to the pinnacle of their athletic careers. For just this unforgettable moment of time - the World holds its breath at the phenomenal success of their individual achievements.
The Olympic dream is to achieve a personal best, the performance of a lifetime. The victory in the Olympics is the crowning glory and a stunning moment. Some burst into tears in uncontrollable emotion, or fall to the ground and kiss it with their bear lips. Others drape themselves in their national flag, or take a victory lap around the crowded stadium. They are all driven by feverish emotion, in front of capacity crowds and billions watching on TV.
This dream comes once in four years and lasts only for a mere sixteen days when the whole world focuses their attention to this unbelievable spectacle of human drama and an outlandish carnival of Olympic spirit and sportsmanship.
It was forty-nine years ago, in 1948, at the XIXth Olympiad in London, that an unknown athletic genius set the world ablaze with a stunning performance in the 400 Meters Men's Hurdles Event, and etched into the Olympic Record Books the SILVER medal he won, astounding the world in its disbelief that such an accomplishment was possible by a country that was hardly known in the international sporting community. As it was DUNCAN WHITE, 32 years old, made this remarkable mark.
In the wake of Sri Lanka not being able to get a medal at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, makes Duncan's Silver Medal, in 1998, FIFTY YEARS old as the next Olympic Games will be held in the Year 2000 in Sydney, Australia, if Sri Lanka can make a shot at one of the medals. On March 1, 1998, Duncan will also turn 80 years old. In 1998 Sri Lanka will also celebrate the Golden Anniversary of her Independence
The empty fanfare and the hogwash prospects carried out by the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Rural Development made before the Atlanta Olympic Games, that Sri Lanka was a breath away of getting a medal has paled into history as another hysterical drama as it unfolded the truth of their myths and fantasies about winning a Medal at these Games. This has always been case for the past four Olympiads. The only medal they got was for taking aging mules, officials on a once in a lifetime joy rides and shopping spree at the generosity of the International Olympic Committee and public funds, including their wives, children and domestic staff in some cases, to see this world's greatest sporting spectacle that come once every quadrennial. They squandered hundred of thousands of the Olympic largesse as noted by the media for the past 16 years. If this waste and squander were put into productive use we may have performed better at these Games where athletes are selected by performance and not by favoritism.
Duncan
White will be in Sri Lanka on February 27. He will be interviewed on the
English Commercial Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
on the Union Assurance Sports Programme on Friday (February 28) at 5.40
pm.
Hatton National Bank beat Singers by 3 goals to 2 in their Mercantile A Division league hockey match played for the Panadol Trophy at the Astro Turf.
Singers led 1-nil at the half.
For the bank Tyronne Kalayanaratne, Marlon Meurling and I. Hewawasam scored a goal each, while Charith Senanayake and R. P. Hewathanthri scored a goal each for Singer.
In the other A Division matches played, Commercial Bank beat AirLanka by 6 goals to nil. The bankmen led 2-nil at the half.
Rukmal Perera scored 4 goals inclusive of a hat-trick, while Manjula Gunawardena and Mahinda Wanagewatta scored a goal each.
John Keells beat Hong Kong Bank by 4 goals to 2. Hong Kong Bank led 2-1 at the half time.
Hamza Mohideen, Dinesh Witharana, M. Shabdeen and B.L.V.S. Perera scored a goal each for John Keells, with Johnny Martin and Dishna Lakwijaya scoring a goal each for the bank.
Arpico beat Bartleets by 5 goals to 4, after leading 2-1 at the half. Keerthi Weerasinghe scored three goals while Rohan Senanayake and Saman de Silva scored a goal each for the winners with D. Tissera and Thajan Swangasa scoring a goal each for the losers.
A hat-trick of goals by Charith Senanayake enabled Singers to beat AirLanka by 7 goals to 1.
Sabry Azar (2) and Ravi Hewathanthri, S. Kumar scored for the winners while D. Fernando scored the solitary goal for the losers.
Meanwhile, Pelwatta Sugar Industries beat Unilevers by 8 goals to nil in their D. Division encounter played at the Malay grounds, Slave Island.
Athula Wijekoon (3), Gamini Priyantha (3) while L.M.R. Premalal and S. Dinesh scored a goal each.
In the other matches, Sampath Bank beat Trans Asia Hotel by 6 goals to 1, Nestles were held to a nil-all draw by Standard Chartered Bank. (AF)
A big question mark hangs over the future of one of Asia's sporting highlights - the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens when Britain hands over the island to China.
Started in 1976 as a loose, informal meeting of seven-a-side rugby teams from overseas, the tournament has been turned by Hong Kong's entrepreneurs into a money-spinner. However, the forthcoming political changes in the British colony, plus the withdrawal of two major sponsors, have fuelled speculation over whether 1997 will witness the last of the Sevens. ~Tickets to the 40,000 seat Hong Kong stadium have been bought months in advance. Tour operators from all over the world have been selling holiday packages which include confirmed seats for the 3 day event. ~Spectators enjoy not only the fast paced rugby (each game lasts for 15 minutes, in contrast to the standard eighty minute 15-a-side international) but also the carnival atmosphere consuming litres of beer and bopping in their seats to the catchy advertising jingles played over the public address system.
The Sevens are a major social occasion, with Hong Kong's four estates - patrician Hongs, diverse clergy, plebians of various colours and the ubiquitous media - well represented in the $110 million stadium. There are also a host of overseas visitors - faces painted in the rainbow colours of South Africa, raucous New Zealanders with kiwi head-dresses, and jet-lagged, Union Jack-draped Britishers. The stadium has 150 private boxes, with corporate Asia said to meet here during the Sevens, reputedly making deals and forging alliances.
Last year, the event's 21st anniversary, corporate giants Cathay Pacific Airways and the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation sponsored the event, contributing around $1 million in cash and services. At these 1996 Sevens, which marked the 21st anniversary of the event, the tourney was expanded from 2 days to 3 Twenty four teams battled it out and New Zealand emerged champions defeating Fiji 19-17 in a close fought final. Next month as usual Hong Kong will stage its popular festival of rugby - but it will be a touch different from the usual Sevens tournament.
Kicking off will be the inaugural Hong Kong Invitation Women's Rugby Sevens on March 15 and 16 for which sixteen countries have been invited.
(Long time Hong Kong resident Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha has been a regular spectator at the Sevens.)
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