BOA assures 'em

The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has assured chef de missions from participating nations that all the venues would be ready much before the start of the 11th South Asian Games.
The regional Olympic jamboree will be held in Bangladesh from January 29 to February 9.
The renovation work at different venues and venues under construction like wooden-floor gymnasium, boxing stadium and handball stadium were scheduled to be completed in November.
But the National Sports Council is already running behind the schedule with the BOA announcing a fresh cutoff time to the high-profile dignitaries from eight out of the nine participating nations.
"We ensured them that all venues of the Games will be ready by January 15," said BOA vice- president and Bangladesh contingent's chef de mission Mizanur Rahman Manu after a meeting of chef the missions at Sheraton Hotel yesterday.
The chef de missions also visited Bangabandhu National Stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies, Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium, Volleyball Stadium, Kabaddi Court, Boxing Stadium, Wooden-Floor Stadium and the NSC Gymnasium after the meeting.
They are also scheduled to visit the National Shooting Complex, Kurmitola Golf Club, Mirpur Indoor Stadium, National Swimming Complex in Mirpur and Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan today.
The meeting also discussed the Games' technical aspects, accreditation, anti-doping and media related matters. Besides, some visiting officials also raised the issue of holding non-Olympic event like cricket. However, the meeting finally stuck to previous 23 disciples for the 12-day spectacle.
The meeting also ensured the leaders that the final scheduled would be ready soon after the participating nations send their entries by December 30.
BOA president and Army chief General M Abdul Mubeen, who graced the meeting as the chief guest, said that the event would be an opportunity to intensify the bond among the South Asian countries. He also stressed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been backing them tremendously to make the SA Games a success.
BOA secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed, ceremonies sub-committee convenor Major General (retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, accreditation sub-committee convenor Major General Rafiqul Islam and venue sub-committee convenor Major General Moinul Islam were among other present on the occasion.