Kathmandu, April 28:

National Sports Council (NSC) and Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) are organising the Olympic Countdown Ceremony on April 30 wishing the successful hosting of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to be held in China from August 8.

“The ceremony will commence at the Basantapur Durbar Square after a rally from Dasharath Stadium, said NSC member secretary and NOC general secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha. “China is hosting the biggest sports festival and as a neighbour this is a matter of pride for us,” said Shrestha.

NOC President Dhruva Bahadur Pradhan informed that the ceremony would be held worldwide on April 30. “The meeting of Association of National Olympic Committee held in China decided to hold the ceremony worldwide to show the Olympic solidarity,” Pradhan added. “This is purely a non-political event and we expect everyone to support us.”

NOC General Secretary Shrestha said that seven players from five sports had been confirmed to represent Nepal in the Beijing Games. Apart from Deepak Bista (Taekwondo), who qualified for the Games, two each athletes and swimmers and one apiece from Shooting and Judo have been confirmed for the Games.

“Long-distance runner Arjun Bahadur Basnet, shooter Fulmaya Kyapachhaki and judo player Debu Thapa have been awarded the wild cards, while a female athlete and two swimmers would be selected later,” informed Shrestha. He also said that the wild card for the Weightlifting would be decided after the Asian Championship and Qualifying Tournament in Japan. Kamal Bahadur Adhikari is scheduled to take part in the tournament on April 29.