IOC vows US$1m for victims
IOC vows US$1m for victims
Agencies, London
The International Olympic Committee will donate US$1 million
to aid victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.
The devastating tidal wave was triggered by an earthquake off
Indonesia on Dec. 26 and killed at least 150,000.
One million people have been rendered homeless and at least
five million are without basic needs to survive. The IOC made its
announcement on its website.
In Karachi, Pakistan's cricket team has donated 25 percent of
their match fees from the Sydney test match against Australia to
aid the tsunami victims.
"The players donation will go to the relief fund set up by the
president (Pervez Musharraf)," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
director Abbas Zaidi said on Tuesday, the third day of Pakistan's
third and final test against Australia in Sydney.
Pakistan's players are paid test fees according to a seniority
system, ranging from 60,000 rupees ($1,000) to 250,000 ($4,200).
Zaidi also said all board employees would donate one day's salary
towards the relief fund.
"We will also be organizing a charity match between the
Pakistan team and the Rest of Pakistan in February and proceeds
from sponsorship, gate money etc would go to the fund," Zaidi
said.
A 50-over charity match between a World XI and an Asian XI
will take place on Jan. 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before
a second match to be played in Asia in either February or March.
Nearly 20,000 tickets have been sold for the fund-raising
cricket one-day game.
Tickets went on sale on Tuesday, with organizers delighted at
the overwhelming early response shown by Australian cricket fans.
"To sell almost 20,000 tickets in half a day is a fantastic
result and augurs well for creating a strong atmosphere at the
fund-raising game on Monday," International Cricket Council chief
executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.
"It is a tremendous reflection of the strength of the
international cricket community - fans and organizers - to come
together to support the Tsunami Appeal."