PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES
CASH AWARDS FOR THE MEDAL WINNERS OF THE BUSAN GAMES FOR THE PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGED ATHLETES
The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has announced cash awards of Rs.5 lakhs,
Rs.3 lakhs, & Rs.2 lakhs respectively to the gold, silver
and bronze medal winners of the 8th FESPIC Games for
the physically challenged athletes. The games were held at Busan
(Korea) from 26th October to Ist November, 2002.
The announcement
came as a spontaneous gesture by the Prime Minister when the medal
winners appealed to the Prime Minister that while the Government
has announced cash awards to the able bodied athletes who won
medals at the recently held Asian Games, no such encouragement
is being given to the physically impaired athletes, who despite
being physically handicapped are able to hold the country’s flag
high in similar international athletic meets for such persons.
It may be noted
that the Indian Contingent in the 8th FESPIC Games
won a total of 22 medals for the country which included 3 gold,
9 silver and 10 Bronze and stood 11th in the overall
medal tally of the Games.
Former Prime
Minister, Shri H.D. Deve Gowda, Minister of Youth Affairs &
Sports, Shri Vikram Varma, Minister of State (Youth Affairs &
Sports) Shri Pon Radhakrishnan with official representatives of
the National Para-Olympic Committee of India were also present.
