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District-wise Tour of CIFA- Thums Up Rural Games kicks off at Vatluru

Eluru District Collector Incharge Durga Das inaugurates the Meet

• Thousands to witness the 2-day tour of CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games
• Vatluru is the second venue of the Games after Srikakulam
• At least 500 participants are expected to participate in various events such as Kabbadi over two days
• Indian Red Cross is to organize free medical and health camp

Vatluru, May 26: The little hamlet of Vatluru is in a celebratory mood with hundreds of farmers and their families participating in games like Kabbadi and Sack Carrying Race after the District Collector in charge, Durga Das inaugurated the Eluru district meet of the CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games 2007 at the Zilla Parishad High School Grounds here today.

Hundreds of farmers from Vatluru and nearby villages participated in the colourful opening ceremony that marked the opening of the district tour of the CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games 2007 organized by Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. The meet moved to Vatluru after successfully completing at Srikakulam. After the current venue it will shift to over a dozen other venues in 11 more districts during the next 10 days creating an unparalleled opportunity for thousands of farmers to participate in rural sporting games like Kabbadi, Sack Carrying Race, etc.

With the aim of offering the villagers healthy benefits, the organizers have also brought in Indian Red Cross to conduct a health and medical camp at the venue. A medical team comprising doctors and support staff is camping at the site offering free medical check up and advices to the people who participate and witness various sporting activities.

The meet will see hundreds of players participating in Kabbadi, Sack carrying race in Men’s category and Rangoli and Short-distance races in Women’s category. The Kabaddi winners will get a cash prize of Rs 5000 and a trophy, and the runner-up will get Rs 2500 as cash prize. Winner of Sack carrying race will get Rs 3000 as prize money and the runner-up will go home with Rs 2000 cash prize.

Similarly, in women’s category, winner of the Rangoli contest will get a cash prize of Rs 1000 and runner-up will get Rs 500. Winner of the relay running competition will bag Rs 2000 and runner-up team will get Rs 1500 as cash prize.

Winners of the district-level competitions will also move to vie for the top honours at the State level scheduled for the first week of June.

Bringing a carnival atmosphere to the Games, organizers are offering a cultural evening to the villagers with local participants tuning to popular songs and offering a feast of mimicry and dance in front of large crowd of farmers and their families.

The CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games is being organized with the objectives to channelize energies of youth towards constructive activities and to strengthen the social cohesiveness for sustainable development in villages. It is also aimed at inculcating interest in sports among rural youth and help spot hidden talent among them, besides instilling pride of achievement amongst the rural folk.

 RURAL GAMES 2006