Sunsari, December 26 Four days after the seventh National Games began, most of the participants are yet to receive their daily allowance from the National Sports Council. Contrary to NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista’s announcement that the sports governing body would hand over allowances to all the participants individually, most of the athletes and officials have not received the money yet. In the absence of allowances, the athletes are finding it hard to meet their daily expenses and some of them have been forced to borrowed money from their friends to pay their daily bills. “We are yet to receive allowances announced by the NSC and we have been spending from our pockets on food and travel,” said Shekhar Upreti, an athlete from Central Region. “This may affect the performance of athletes,” said Bishnu Bhat, men’s volleyball team skipper from the far-western region. “Athletes should get their allowances as soon as possible,” he added. Not only the players, but the officials are also eagerly awaiting their daily allowances and hope that they will be paid before the games end. “I have to clear hotel bills and have asked the hotel owner to wait for a few days, as I have not received the money. I am hopeful that NSC will provide us allowances by Tuesday before the conclusion of the athletics events,” said Rabin Kumar Rai, one of the referees. However, NSC’s Account Section Chief Kapil Mani Pokharel said the sports governing body had been providing the amount to those who had finished their events. “We give the allowance to players and teams as soon as their events are over,” said Pokharel. “Sometimes it gets delayed by an hour or so, as we have limited manpower and the venues are at scattered,” said Pokharel. “As the management has provided all the teams with local transportation facilities, very few players should be spending from their pockets,” he insisted.