8th BD Games set to begin tomorrow

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Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has completed all necessary preparations to hold the 8th Bangladesh Games on April 20-28 next, reports UNB. A record 10,000 sportsmen, team officials and technical persons will join the Games with 2,243 medals at stake in 346 events of 31 sporting disciplines at 27 venues across the country. "We've taken all the necessary steps to stage the mega event. Officials of BOA and members of various sub-committees are working round the clock to make the meet a grand success. We hope the Games will bring huge enthusiasm," BOA Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza told a crowded press conference at the BOA House on Thursday. Chairman of Games Steering Committee and BOA Vice President Harun ur Rashid, Secretary of Games Steering Committee Ashikur Rahman Miku, Chairman of the Games Media Committee Hedayatullah Al Mamun and member secretary of the media committee Asaduzzaman Kohinoor also spoke on the occasion. Syed Shahed Reza said the biggest event of the domestic circuit is going to be held after about eleven years. "We've many limitations, but we'll try to run the whole event - from opening to closing-in orderly manner." Considering the current volatile political situation, all the Games venues will be brought under a security blanket, said Harun-ur-Rashid He urged the opposition parties to slow down their political programs during the Games. Replying to a query, Ashikur Rahman Miku said a medical team with some 20 doctors will take care of the sportsmen. In case of any injury during the Games, the BOA will bear the expenditure of their treatment. Hedayatullah Al Mamun said that a central media cell will be set up for the newsmen at the BOA Building. Besides, an internet link will be available during the Games to collect information in both Bangla and English. The Games opening ceremony will be telecast live on giant screen at all divisional and district headquarters in the country. Of the total seating capacity of 25,570 people at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, some 12,570 sports lovers will be allowed entry free of cost. State-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and five other private satellite TV networks-ATN Bangla, SA TV, Somoy TV, Channel i and Desh TV-will also telecast live some major events of the 8th Bangladesh Games. BTV will live telecast the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and football semifinals and final in addition to daily highlights of the Games. ATN Bangla will live telecast athletics, hockey, badminton, cycling and final of women's kabaddi while SA TV will live telecast cricket semifinals and final; Channel i to live telecast volleyball, handball and archery finals; Desh TV golf; and Somoy TV torch rally and swimming. The opening ceremony of the mega event will start at 7.00 pm tomorrow (Saturday) at the country's premier sports venue - Bangabandhu National Stadium, following a pre-show. The opening ceremony will include a cultural programme where some 650 artists will take part and it will conclude through 10 minutes of colorful fireworks. Meanwhile, a rally carrying the Games' torch will kick-off today (Friday), a day before the opening ceremony of the biggest sporting event of the country. Ten celebrated sportsmen will start the first leg of the torch rally from National Mausoleum in Savar while former hockey star Jumman Lusai will light the torch at the top of the grand staircase of Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on Saturday (April 20).