Sri Lanka athletes Naveen Heshan Amarasinghe (100m), Dulaj Lahiru (400m), Akshana Chathubashini Maralanda (100m), H.H. Nadeeshani (400m) and Nimesha Madushani Siriwardena (high jump) will participate today at the first Asian Youth Games now in progress here in Singapore.

Nearly 300 athletes from the Asian region will compete in today’s athletic events while Madushani Siriwardena will take part in the high jump final.

The manager of the Sri Lanka athletic team, Chandana Ekanayake said there was some kind of hope in the disciplines of Heshan Amarasinghe (100m) and Dulaj Lahiru (400m).

Sri Lanka is taking part in five events out of nine of the Asian Youth Games and will compete in five disciplines of athletics today.

Attractive opening ceremony

The Asian Youth Games for youth between 14-17 years commenced with an attractive opening ceremony yesterday.

Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Nising Lung, declared open the games titled ‘Asia’s Youth, Our Future’. It was followed by a colorful cultural ceremony that highlighted both Asia and Singapore.

Sri Lankan athletes wore specially designed uniform for the first time in an International event yesterday. Incidentally, the five member committee who approved the uniform were also present to witness the event.

The International Olympic Committee’s anti doping unit has taken steps to check athletes using performance enhancing drugs.

Medical officer of the Sri Lankan contingent Lal Ekanayake said the authorities have taken steps to conduct tests on a daily basis disregarding the heavy costs involved to stop the up coming athletes using performance enhancing drugs.

The Asian Olympic Committee has decided to ‘think twice’ before imposing punishments to young athletes as they are in the age group 14-17.

Swine flu

Channel News Asia of Singapore reported that swine flu had spread in Singapore. They have decided to close down all International Schools for one week due to the outbreak. Channel News Asia also reported the number of swine flu patients had increased to 144.

Two football teams sent home

Meanwhile, the authorities have sent home the football teams of Philippines and Hong Kong after two of their players were positively identified of swine flu.

To prevent the spread of swine flu among athletes and media personal, authorities have distributed surgical masks with a digital apparatus to check body temperature every five hours.