CHENNAI: As the new government in Tamil Nadu is set to take charge, events on Sunday’s Indian Open Athletics series-6 may get affected. The swear-in ceremony for the new government, led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president C Joseph Vijay, is set to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium — adjacent to the outdoor venue – by 10 am.
The Tamil Nadu Athletics Association (TNAA) — the organisers of the event — have sent out a notice to athletes urging them to arrive at the venue early. “Due to traffic restrictions on the approaching roads to the stadium, the athletes participating in the events of morning session from 7.30 am to 11.30 am are requested to enter the stadium before 6.30 am,” the notice read.
Athletes participating in the events, scheduled from 6 am to 7.30 am, should be at the stadium by 5 am, the notice went on to add. TNAA organising secretary C Latha said that she hopes to see athletes reach the venue within the said time. “If there is a large-scale absence of athletes due to the surging crowd, then we may conduct it at a later time.”
Some of the finals that are scheduled to take place on the day are 110m hurdles (five between 9.40am to 10.25am), discus throw women at 10.30am, two 100m hurdles final at 10.35 and 10.45 and the long jump women final is slotted at 11.30 am before a one and a half hour break.
According to the current schedule the last event was slotted for 8.55pm.