The official media briefing for the 31st Annual Mercantile Athletic Meet was held today at the Colombo Otters Aquatic Club in the presence of the Board of Officials Of Mercantile Athletic Foundation.
The 31st Annual Mercantile Athletic Meet will be held on the 11th and the 12th Of October at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakse International Sports Complex commencing at 9.00 am on Saturday the 11th of October.
A number of 1800 athletes will participate in the event from 42 different companies in the mercantile sector of Sri-Lanka. The president of the Mercantile Athletic Foundation emphasised the importance of the participants as they could show-case their talents and could be a different experience apart from the day-to-day work routine.
There would be a number of 318 events in 5 different age categories; Over 35/Over 40/Over 45/Over 50 and Over 55 in both men and women categories.
For the second consecutive time, a foreign mercantile team of athletes from India will particulate in the meet which will be a good exposure for the local athlete’s vice-versa. The President of the Foundation also stated the fact that after the participation of the Indian team last year, India too has taken measures in order to form a Mercantile Athletic Foundation in India and we as the Locals are proud to be the initiatives on the project. He further stated that discussions are being held between the dual parties in order to construct an Indo-Sri Lanka Mercantile Athletic Friendship and as a result a team from Sri Lanka will be touring India next February 2015 for the inaugural India Mercantile Athletic Meet.
It`s with utmost sadness that Board of Officials stated the fact that though the Mercantile Athletic Foundation is affiliated to the Athletic Association Of Sri Lanka, they have not financially aided this tournament other than just once in the year 2011. The main sponsors for the year 2014 will be Ceylon Biscuits Limited and Sri Lanka Telecom and Janshakthi Insurance will be co-sponsors for the event.
The final emphasised statement from the Board officials was to request the participating athletes to maintain high-ground discipline during the progress of the event and support the conductors to handle and conclude the event in an successful manner.
