International sporting no more involves mere sportsman spirit and contest on the track. More counts money power and politics. The stronger, the winner. And that is what matters. The case of the Athens Atlanta showdown for holding the richest and highest sporting event of human endurance, the Olympics, in 1996 is much afresh in the minds of sports lovers. That the American city of Atlanta outbid the hot favorite Athens to win the richest reward in modern sport is part of history. The Games, apart from resurrecting an international image, rakes in massive amounts of money, thus boosting the economy.

Even before the Eleventh Asian Games concluded in Beijing, the Chinese set their eyes on Olympics 2000. And every success of the host in the continental games led in reaffirming their quest for the games, a decade away from now, for which the official announcement will be made in 1993. “The successful staging of Asian Games XI has heightened China’s confidence about hosting the Olympic Games in 2000”, said Wu Shazou, Executive President of the Asiad Organizing Committee. He continued, “It has long been a cherished desire of China to host the Olympics, after summing up the Asian Games we will submit our application first to the Chinese Government. And it has to be hurried up since the international Olympics Committee (IOC) will decide the site of the Olympics in 1993”. To support the success of the Beijing Games, the competition results are another symbol of the standard set. Seven world records, 89 Asian records and 189 Asian Games records were rewritten during the 16day extravaganza.

China on its part with a farsighted view, made Beijing Asian Games the foundation of their bid for the Olympics. And it has paid in positive results. The presence of the IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch during the opening stages of the Games, was also a step in this regard. Samaranch went back a happy man from China, which is a morale booster for the Chinese, having spared no efforts in white washing their past image of “the sick man of Asia”.

The paramount buildup for the Asiad, withstanding the ‘89 Tiananmen Square massacre, was praiseworthy despite drawbacks on certain counts including the language barrier. But the overall result has gone in favor of the host nation. But having realized their faults much early, the determined Chinese may succeed in making their bid accepted.

By hosting its first major international sports event, China has demonstrated its ability to mobilize concerted efforts and resources among 1.1 billion Chinese people to achieve a shared goal. And it would be no surprise if China gets the green signal for hosting Olympics 2000. Well ahead in the race, the battle has begun…

NEW DELHI: Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the secretary of the board of control for cricket in India (BCCI), said here Nov 29, that he was optimistic that Pakistan will take part in the Asia Cup and later play a series of tests and one dayers.

There is no indication so far that they are not coming, Mr. Dalmiya said while releasing Nov 29 the fixtures of the Asia Cup in which besides the hosts, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are participating.

Mr. Dalmiya said he had finalized most of the tour itinerary in consultation with the Pakistani cricket authorities. Only travel plans at a few places are yet to be agreed upon, he added.

Dalmiya said the Asia Cup will open with India taking on Bangladesh at Jammu and Pakistan playing Sri Lanka in Delhi on December 25,

The final will be played in Calcutta on January 3, He said the teams would arrive ‘on December 23.

Following is the fixtures:

25 Dec, India vs Bangladesh at Jammu

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Delhi

28 Dec. India vs Sri Lanka at Delhi

Pakistan vs Bangladesh at Vizag

31 Dec, India vs Pakistan at Hyderabad

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka at Calcutta

 NEW DELHI: India Skipper Mohd. Azhatuddin will lead the board president’s XI and Navjote Sidhu the Wills XI in the Wills

Trophy matches beginning on December.

The teams and dates of the matches were announced by Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, secretary of the board of control for cricket in India (BCCI), after the selectors’ meeting here.

The three quarterfinal matches will be organised simultaneously at three places of December 11 Delhi vs Board President’s XI at Feroze Shah Kotla (Delhi), Karnataka Vs Bombay at Patiala and Uttar Pradesh vs Bengal at services grounds at Palam (Delhi),

In the semifinals on December 13, winners of Delhi Board Xi will meet winners of Karnataka Bombay match in Chandigarh while winners of UP Bengal match will take on Wills XI at Feroze Shah Kotla,

The final will also be played at the Feroze Shah Kotla on December 15.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> December 7, 1990