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Bollywood star Sunil Shetty, who hails from Mangaluru, will inaugurate the 19th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championship on April 30 at the Mangala Stadium. The city will be the host for this national athletics event to be held between May 1 and May 3.

Reviewing preparations for the prestigious event on Saturday, Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports K. Abhayachandra Jain said he had met Mr. Shetty when the latter had come a few days ago to Mulky. “He agreed to inaugurate the event,” Mr. Jain said, and added that a few more persons of national stature would take part in the inaugural ceremony.

During the meeting it was revealed that the four-day event would cost around Rs. 1.50 crore. The State government has promised Rs. 1 crore while the remaining amount will be generated through donations from public sector undertakings, major private industrial units, public sector banks, deemed universities and also builders and trade bodies. The Mangaluru City Corporation will give Rs. 20 lakh.

Around Rs. 25.16 lakh would be spent towards 300 rooms for accommodation of athletes, officials and guests in hotels spread out in the city. Rooms in the new Circuit House and other guest houses will also be made use of.

Around Rs. 10 lakh would be spent towards publicity of the event that would include the use of slots in three FM channels and six local television channels. As many as 700 athletes and 200 officials will be taking part in the event.

President of Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association G. Parameshwara inspected the preparation for the event in Mangala Stadium and Karavali grounds. Expressing satisfaction over the preparations, Mr. Parameshwara said the association was keen on having a permanent floodlight facility at the Mangala Stadium. Mr. Jain, who accompanied Mr. Parameshwara, said his department would push this project with the State government if a proposal was made by the Athletics Association.