Thums Up Rural Games to Open April
28
Unleashing an action packed
season of fun and joy, Hindustan Coca-Cola Southern Region
announced the launch of the second edition of Thums Up Rural
Games beginning April 28 covering 20 centres in 14 districts
of Andhra Pradesh and a mega-plan to extend the Games beyond
the state to Karnataka and Maharashtra from this year.
Curtains will rise for the
the 40-day extravaganza with the formal lighting of the Games
torch at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad on April 28.
The Games will unfurl in 19 more centres spreading up to
four days in a centre where rural energy will vie for honours
in various ethnic and traditional games like kabbadi, khokho,
sack-carrying race etc.. The two-leg Games will see the victorious
from the district level contesting at the state level in
the final leg.
The logo of the Games and
the trophies for the state winners of the Kabbadi (men) and
Khokho (women) were unveiled at a press conference in Hyderabad
on April 25.
Enthralled by the Rural
Games 2006 experience, Hindustan Coca-Cola along with its
partner Consortium of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA) is
taking the experience of the Games a few leaps further this
year by organizing health and eye-test camps, information
kiosks on agriculture, health awareness and self help groups
through a unique private-public participation. Governmental
and non-governmental agencies such as the Indian Red Cross,
Department of Agriculture, Department of Health & Family
Welfare, and Velugu (Department of Self Help Groups) are
pitching in with facilities to provide information useful
to the farming and rural communities from the Games venue.
Announcing the schedule
of the Games Deepak Kaul, Southern Region Vice President
said, “The first edition of the Thums Up Rural Games
proved to be a learning ground for us wherein we came closer
to the communities and learnt many new things in the process.
We believe that the objectives of Rural Games would be fulfilled
only if this initiative is sustained over a long term and
are therefore privileged to renew our association with CIFA.
Our significantly expanded association is a reaffirmation
of the company’s commitment towards rural communities.”
Mr. P. Chengal Reddy, Secretary
General of CIFA said, “This is an innovative exercise
to explore new benchmarks for public-private partnerships
that go beyond the conventional business relationships. We
are delighted to join hands with Hindustan Coca-Cola in this
initiative which has now become part of the company’s
corporate citizenship programme and is the only example of
its kind anywhere in the country”.
Ms. Malini Reddy, Arjuna
award winner and former women’s volleyball captain
of Indian team who thrice represented India in Olympics Games
said, “Coca-Cola is doing a right thing by creating
an opportunity for the rural masses to participate and experience
the fun of Sport and Games in their villages.” She
wished the Games all success. |