Mangaluru, Apr 29: Congress leader and Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA) president Dr G Parameshwara said that around 200 certified officials from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had arrived in Mangaluru to review and evaluate the stadium and preparations for the 19th Federation Cup – Senior Athletics Championship 2015 scheduled to kick-off at Mangala Stadium here on Thursday.
Briefing media persons at a press conference here on Wednesday, he said that to a vast portion of the preparations and arrangements had been completed ahead of the Championship on Thursday, when all the registered athletes participating in the competitive events would arrive in Mangaluru.
He said that the Dakshina Kannada district administration and other organisations had extended their full support and cooperation to ensure that the event was held smoothly. To treat injuries borne by the athletes and critical emergencies during the tournament, a unit of sports medicine injury centre, the first of its kind in the state, will be stationed at the venue of the event for the entire duration of four days, he informed.
Health minister U T Khader, who was present on the occasion after conducting an inspection of the stadium, said that a unit of sports medicine injury centre, comprising of four trained doctors from Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic, Bengaluru would be set up at the stadium for treating the injured sportspersons during the event.
He said that the sports medicine injury centre had been set up at the medical institute with the intention of treatment and recuperation of injured sportspersons in minimum number of days.
‘Uncertain of CM inaugurating the championship’
In response to queries of mediapersons, Mr Parameshwara said that it was uncertain whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would inaugurate the athletics championship since he would be engaged in a national-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. There are 50-50 chances of the chief minister attending the inaugural programme. In case of his absence, one of the other dignitaries will formally inaugurate the event, he replied.
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that the formal inaugural programme would begin with a march-past of the contingents at 5.15 p.m. on Thursday, which would be followed by the official inauguration and stage programme at 6.15 p.m. This will be followed by a two-hour cultural programme from 7.15 p.m. onwards, he informed.
Mr Parameshwar also announced that the official website of the Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association would be re-launched on Wednesday evening, to keep the athletes, participating teams, coaches and public updated about the course of events.



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