- Title: INDIA: Tibetans prepare for their own 'Olympics'
- Date: 17th May 2008
- Summary: SLATE INFORAMTION
- Embargoed: 31st May 2008 23:23
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Sport
- Reuters ID: LVAD38VJV18ZO51YY88TF6KSXZSF
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Tibetans-in-exile in India's northern Dharamsala prepares to host parallel Olympics beginning May 22 with the aim to give its youth sporting exposure without focusing on the political issues currently affecting their fellow citizens.
Running from May 22 to 25, the event is an initiative of the organisers to give an opportunity to Tibetans would not be able to go to the Beijing Olympics.
"The idea behind 'Tibetan Olympics' is that Tibetan people will not have the opportunity to go to Beijing Olympics in August. So in order to have a platform for Tibetan people to join in the celebrations of international Olympics, we have created this 'Tibetan Olympics'. There is no political agenda. It may be there but it is not our focus," said Lobsang Wangyal, organizer of 'Tibetan Olympics 2008'.
A total of fifteen men and eight women have come from different parts of India to participate in events such as shooting, swimming and athletics.
"I heard that there is very less number of Tibetan girls participating in the 'Tibetan Olympics' and that encouraged me to participate.
I ignored my studies and I inspired my staff that I can manage the subjects later. I consider this Olympics is the first in Tibetan history. I think I had to take part. I heard the girls are shying away to participate in the event but I don't have to shy," said Dhartsokyi, a female Tibetan participant.
There will be two categories of event - one Tibetan and the other International.
The prize money for the Tibetan Olympics is one hundred million rupees (2,341 U.S. dollars) for the gold medal winner in both the male and female categories, fifty thousand rupees (1,170 U.S. dollars) for silver medal and twenty five thousand rupees (341 U.S. dollars) for bronze.
In March, Tibetans in exile carried a torch relay similar to the Olympic torch with the slogan 'One World, Many Dreams', in Dharamsala, or 'Mini Lhasa' as it is known due to the large number of Tibetans in the town.
Since riots broke out in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in March, Tibetans in exile and their supporters have staged regular protests along the Olympic torch route and in other Tibetan areas of China. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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