Governor to flag off Military World Cup Games run on May 13

Chandigarh, May 10 (UNI) The Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh, Gen (Retd) S.F. Rodrigues would flag off the ceremonial 1.5-Km Run on May 13 as a precursor to the 4th Military World Games 2007 scheduled to be held at Hyderabad later this year.

The other two simultaneous Runs - the 5-Km run for school children and NCC Cadets and the 10-Km run for professional runners (open category) - would be flagged off by the Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Co-operation and Defence Services Welfare Minister, Punjab Government respectively, Maj Gen P.C. Kharbanda, MGGS, HQ Western Command told reporters today.

He also informed the media persons that this Commemorative Run, carrying the message of 'Friendship through Sports', marks the '150 Days To Go For The Military World Games' and was being organised to create awareness about the ''India's biggest-ever sporting event in which nearly 5000-6000 sports persons from 127 countries were expected to participate. It is for the first time that an Asian country is hosting the Games.

Calling upon the people of the city to participate in the event in large numbers, Gen Kharbanda informed that the entry for the 10 Km and 5 Km run is open and the participants for the 10 km and 5 km run will assemble at the Punjab and Haryana Secretariat by 0545 hrs.

For the 1.5 km event all invitees are requested to be at Sukhna lake view by 0630 hrs. Besides the Run in three categories, the other planned for the day include the slithering of the Games mascot Bison from a helicopter on to a platform especially placed in the Sukhana Lake for the purpose, a fly past by three army aviation helicopters and sky diving by nine sky divers of the Para Brigade from Agra.

The event would conclude with a prize distribution ceremony and an entertainment programme at the Bouginvillea Garden, he added.

The 4th Military World Games will be conducted at Hyderabad from 14 October to 21 October this year, except two sports of Sailing and Triathlon, which will be conducted at Mumbai.

The earlier three Games were held at Rome (Italy), Zagreb (Croatia) and Catania (Italy) in 1995,1999 and 2003 respectively.

UNI