NSC makes public National Games expenditure

KATHMANDU: The National Sports Council (NSC) saved more than Rs 82 million approximately of the total allocated budget of Rs 250 million for the fifth National Games held here from April 6 to 12.

Though the government had provided Rs 250 million for the mega event, NSC could spend only Rs 167.76 million, leaving a surplus of around Rs 82.23 million. NSC member-secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha made public the expenditure of the account at a press meet here today.

According to the NSC, it spent Rs 65.55 million as the organising cost of the national games in Kathmandu. Likewise, Rs 47.50 million was spent on regional tournaments and selection followed by Rs 12.21 million on infrastructure developments, Rs 9.30 million on sports gear for training and tournaments, Rs 9.13 million on district tournaments and selections, Rs 7.97 million on regional closed camp trainings, Rs 3.24 million on Open section selection tournaments, Rs 1.18 million on cash prizes and felicitation function, and Rs 843,000 on national seminar. The expenditure also includes Rs 10 million set aside for the Players' Welfare Fund.

The expenditure also includes yet to be used Rs 10.42 million for the special training of the Elite players. Member secretary Shrestha said that they have decided to spend the remaining Rs 82 million on training Elite players and infrastructure development.

Initially, the NSC had sought Rs 404.2 million from the government but they received only Rs 250 million in four installments. According to member secretary Shrestha they received the last installment of Rs 50 million only two days before the fifth National Games kicked off. "We could not utilise the sum properly due to the late release of the fund," said Shrestha. The remaining money will be used for construction of Central Academy in Hetauda as well as maintenance and construction of covered halls in various districts, said Shrestha.