Spectacular cultural show marks 100-day countdown of WMG

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Hyderabad, July 9: A spectacular cultural show, flagging off a car rally, unveiling of medals and launch of 'Greening India' campaign marked the 100-day countdown ceremony of the 4th World Military Games here.

Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju flagged off the 21-car rally yesterday and planted a sapling at the Gachibowli sports complex in the presence of top military officials and Andhra Pradesh government representatives and large gathering of school children and sports lovers.

The car rally will touch 21 districts of Andhra Pradesh to spread awareness of the Games which will be held here from October 14 to 21.

The symbolic tree planting marked the launch of the ''Mission Greening of India'' campaign, which has been one of the themes to popularise the Games. Other states will follow suit to spread the campaign.

Mr Raju, Chief of Army, General JJ Singh and Chief of Navy Admiral Suresh Mehta unveiled the replica of the gold, silver and bronze medals of the Games respectively.

But, the showpiece of the occasion was the musical performance by the 11 contestants of Sony Television reality show 'India Idols' who performed on stage to the huge cheers of dignitaries and large number of spectators, mostly children, present at the Indoor stadium at the Gachibowli complex.

They sang the title song of the Games ''Jitenge hum dilon ko jitenge'' (We will win the hearts of people) to the accompaniment of high voltage music and lasers adding colour to the show.

Earlier, addressing the media, Mr Raju said the WMG Organising Committee was leaving no stone unturned to make the Games a success.

''The choice of the Games in Hyderabad shows the world's respect for India and Indian military. We will stage the best ever WMG in Hyderabad,'' he said.

Mr Raju said the total budget of the Games was pegged at Rs 127.65 crores and the Central government will also provide Rs 10 crore to the state goverment towards the hosting of the Games.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Ram Narayan Reddy said the state government has been helping the armed forces towards providing infrastructure and logistics wherever necessary for a successful holding of the Games.

An estimated Rs 38 to 40 crores will be spent by the state government from its coffers towards the Games. It has already spent Rs 5 crore for renovation and upgradation of infrastructure.

Gen. JJ Singh was optimistic of Indian athletes doing well in the Games and said they will be given top class training to achieve this.

''Our athletes have been training for the last three to four years with an aim to do well in this Games. They have been given top class training at the Army Sports Training Institute in Pune,'' he said.

India, which won only one medal -- bronze-- in the last edition of the Games in Catania in Italy in 2003, have also sent some ot its athletes abroad to train in some disciplines.

The 4th World Military Games, being held for the first time outside Europe, is being billed as the biggest multi-discipline sporting extravaganza ever staged in the country. It is being held under the aegis of Brussels-based International Military Sports Council, which is known by its French acronym CISM (Conseil International du Sports Militaire).

So far, more than 5,000 athletes and officials from 78 countries have confirmed participation.

Organisers are, however, expecting that the number of participating countries will touch 100 and the number of athletes and officials will cross 6000 by the time of the August 15 deadline.

CISM has 128 member countries. Pakistan has so far not confirmed its particiaption.

India is expected to field the largest number of athletes while China and Germany are likely to send more than two hundred athletes. Organisers are expecting more than 100 participants from the USA. France and Russia have also confirmed participation.

The athletes will compete in 13 disciplines which are football, handball, volleyball, swimming, track and field, judo, boxing, parachuting, sailing and triathlon.

Sailing and triathlon will take place in Mumbai while the remaining 13 disciplines will be held in Hyderabad.

Hockey and kabaddi, which were earlier included as demonstration games, have beeen scrapped due to lack of participation.

Instead, polo will be showcased in an exhibition match to be played on October 19.

The WMG, whose motto is 'Friendship through sports to bring peace', was first held in 1995 in Rome to mark the 50 years of end of World War II. Zagreb (Croatia) played host to the second edition in 1999 while 2003 Games were held in Catania in Italy.

UNI