SAPOG announces exclusive ¡®Marketing Partner¡¯

SAPOG 2008, the first ever South Asian Port Games will be held at Sri Lanka from 4 October 2008 to 8 October 2008. SAPOG 2008 aims to build solid relationships with real sporting spirit among all Sea and Air ports in the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region. The successful SAARC summit was followed by SAARC trade fair and South Asian Port Games. The Official ‘Logo’ & ‘Web’ launch of SAPOG took place on 12th August 2008 at Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo.

SAPOG 2008 has announced Marine BizTV, the global maritime satellite channel as its exclusive International Marketing Partner and also as the regional information center. Marine BizTV is a 24 hour free to air Satellite channel available across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North America. Two government owned institutions, Sri Lanka Ports Authority & Airport & Aviation of Sri Lanka is fully involved in SAPOG as well.

The participating countries for SAPOG 2008 are Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A total number of 677 participants have registered for the event so far to mark their presence from these seven countries. The host country, Sri Lanka will provide Transport, Food and Lodging for all legitimate participants for SAPOG. 

The steering committee for SAPOG consists of Patron in Chief - His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka; Patron - Hon. Rathnasiri Wickramanayake, Prime Minister, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; Chairman - Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister of Ports and Aviation Cabinet, Sri Lanka; Deputy Chairman - Hon. Sarath Gunarathne, Deputy Minister of Aviation, Sri Lanka and Convener - Hon. Dilan Perera, Minister of Port Development, Sri Lanka. The organizing committee of SAPOG 2008 consists of Hon. Dilan Perera as the Executive Chairman and Mr. Nalin Attygalle as the Project Director, who is also a prominent figure among the main organizers.

The observer status countries in the region like Australia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Korea, Vietnam and United States are also invited for the ever first port games by SAARC. SAPOG 2008 constitutes a wide series of games both indoor and outdoor like Carrom, Billiard, Table Tennis, Badminton, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball, Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, Golf and Tennis. The newly introduced countries of SAARC will also be given an opportunity to introduce their respective teams for SAPOG 2008.