Sporting bodies hope for favourable budget

There are three sporting organizations that will be seeking allocations from the Interim Government when the National Budget for 2008 is announced today.

The Fiji Rugby Union is hoping to get $400,000 for next year's IRB Under-20 Rugby World Cup and development programmes, although IRB has increased their grant from $400,000 to $600,000 for 2008.

Meanwhile Rugby League is also seeking half-million dollars from the Interim Government, to help them put the best team for next year's Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

FASANOC is another one, as they have always received grants from the Government. President Vidhya Lakhan has written to the Interim Government about their 2008 Budget and is hoping to get around $600,000.

This will cover their preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and some money will also go towards the minor sports for their development.