Raihan Mahmood
Bangladesh is ready to host the 11th edition of South Asian Games with pomp and splendor. The 2010 South Asian Games the major multi-sport event, scheduled to take place from January 29 to February 9, 2010 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This will be the third time that the Bangladeshi capital hosts the Games, thus becoming the 4th city to host the Games multiple times (after Colombo, Kathmandu and Islamabad). It is also expected to be the largest sporting event ever in the history of Bangladesh. Formerly called as South Asian Federation (SAF) Games it was renamed to South Asian Games from its tenth edition in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 2006. The torch of the 11th SA Games will be ignited at the Adam’s Peak Sri Lanka on January 22nd. From now on all the torches of the future SA Games will follow the same course. The Adam’s Peak respected by all the religion’s is situated 7359 above the sea level. Top Sri Lankan athletes will be present in the five hour long program. After the ignition the torch will arrive at Colombo and reach Dhaka on January 24th . BTV is expected to transmit the program live. General Abdul Mubeen, the president of Bangladesh Olympic Association will receive the torch at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on January 25th. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will initiate the torch relay at the Meghna Ghat on January 28th and Kazi Salahuddin, the president of Bangladesh Football Federation will light the torch of the Bangabandhu National Stadium at the gala opening ceremony of the 11th SA Games. The logo of the 11th SAF Games represents the flying doyle or doel, more commonly known as the magpie robin. It is the National Bird of Bangladesh. The logo was designed by Bangladeshi artist Moniruzzaman. The mascot of these games also features the magpie robin, holding the torch which would begin the games. Originally, the 11th South Asian Games were scheduled to take place in November 2009. However, the host country, Bangladesh, faced hurdles due to general elections, as a result South Asian Association Council (SAOC) held the 39th Executive Meeting and decided against hosting the Games in 2009,thus postponing the games to (early) 2010. All the eight countries of South Asia India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan Maldives, Afghanistan and hosts Bangladesh will participate in the 2010 South Asian Games. There are 23 official sports for the 11th SAF Games. For the first time, Twenty20 cricket is included in the Game. Some 2,000 athletes from the eight nations will fight for 156 gold medals in a record 23 disciplines to be held in five divisions including the capital. On 26 November 1981 the South Asian Federation Games was established in Delhi to promote friendship and goodwill among the people of the seven SAARC Countries. On 17 September 1984, Nepal got the privilege to organize the first South Asian Federation Games in Dasrath Stadium in Kathmandu. There are 23 official sports for the 11th SAF Games. They are Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Handball, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu. Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A along with two-time champions Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan in the football event of the 11th South Asian Games. Group B features defending champions Pakistan, four-time champions India, last year’s runners-up Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Zoran Djordevic the Serbian national coach of Bangladesh football team and skipper Aminul Huq conveyed the same message- Bangladesh needs the title of the upcoming SA Games football. Djordevic, was in his typical upbeat mood. ‘I firmly believe that Bangladesh players have the talent and potential to be the champions and we will take the field to win the title, what I have tried to do is to motivate the players to fight till the end, I hope and believe Bangladesh will play a fighting brand of football’ said Zoran. Aminul the inseparable name of the Bangladesh national team echoed the same tune. ‘I really feel that we have the chance of winning the title that we won ten years back, Zoran is different coach we have been going through video sessions to rectify our faults of the SAFF championship, we will play good football’ said Aminul. The Bangladesh Olympic Association has planned a magnificent aquatic show, the first ever of its kind in the country, during the opening ceremony of the 11th SA Games scheduled to be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on January 29. The secretary general of the BOA, Kutubuddin Ahmed revealed the fact. ‘It is a unique piece of craftsmanship. Artists from Paris will perform the act in a 400-square meter pool built inside the BNS,’ he said. The closing ceremony will feature a 15 minutes fireworks show that will enlighten the Dhaka sky with colors, We, the SA Games Organizing Committee and the BOA, hope to lift the image of the country hosting the meet efficiently,’ said Kutubuddin Venues of the past Sa Games Year Games Host City Country 1984 I Kathmandu Nepal 1985 II Dhaka Bangladesh 1987 III Calcutta India 1989 IV Islamabad Pakistan 1991 V Colombo Sri Lanka 1993 VI Dhaka Bangladesh 1995 VII Madras India 1999 VIII Kathmandu Nepal 2004 IX Islamabad Pakistan 2006 X Colombo Sri Lanka 2010 XI Dhaka Bangladesh