Following is the news coverage in mainstream newspaper "Daily Herald"
Click here: Daily Herald: Suburban Chicago's Information Source
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intID=371035

Punjabi Sports Festival turns spotlight on culture & ethnic diversity
By Carly Hemphill Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted on July 31, 2001 & August 1, 2001

The Punjabi Sports Festival will not only feature sports, but will
focus on culture as well.

The Aug. 11 event, is being co-sponsored by the Punjabi Cultural
Society of Chicago and the Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee
of the Vision in Progress, will focus on fun and fitness in the community,
which is a part of the Punjabi tradition.

"(We want) to get the community active and to be in touch with Punjabi
sports," said Mohinderjit Saini of the Punjabi Cultural Society of
Chicago.

Featuring team and individual sports and games, the festival will
include tournaments for sports such as volleyball, field hockey, soccer
and basketball from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Winston Campus, 900 E. Palatine
Road.

There will also be tournaments in the Indian-originated kabaddi,
a team sport like tag and football combined, where players capture
their opponents to win points. Teams from Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis
will compete for the trophy.

Along with Punjabi sports, other aspects of the culture will also
be highlighted throughout the festival. A complimentary Punjabi lunch,
a bhangra aerobics class, a demonstration of martial arts and a Punjabi
disc jockey will be offered to patrons. Bhangra is a folk dance to
the beat of a drum to express happiness. The demonstration will be
combined with aerobics for a fun workout.

Games will be scheduled throughout the day of the festival, but
due to the large number of entries, basketball and volleyball quarter
finals and semifinals will be played on Sunday.

Individual competitions in the 100-, 200-, 800- and 1,500-meter
run, along with shotput, discus and weight lifting, are open for athletes.

Games for seniors and children will also be set up, including tug
of war, musical chairs and a water balloon toss.

Admission to the festival is free for spectators, but to enter the
tournament the cost is $25 per team, or $2 for individual sports.

Mayor Rita Mullins and Rep. Suzie Bassi will inaugurate the festival
at the opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., which will feature the participants
in a parade.

For more information, visit www.pcschicago.org Click here: Punjabi Cultural
Society of Chicago or call the 24-hour Punjabi hotline, (847) 359-5PCS.
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For coverage on previous years Punjabi Sports Festival events in mainstream
media
Click here: Archives - Palatine Countryside-Punjabi Sports Festival 2000
http://archives.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/archives/localnews/2000/pa/

08-17-00-16093.html
Click here: Archives - Palatine Countryside-Punjabi Sports Festival 1999
http://archives.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/archives/localnews/1999/pa/

08-19-99-11130.html
Click here: Archives - Palatine Countryside-Punjabi Sports Festival 1998
http://archives.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/archives/localnews/1998/pa/

08-06-98-28675.html

Click here: Sports Festival 2000 Pictures
http://www.pcschicago.org/sf/Past/00/2000pics.htm
Click here: Punjabi Sports Festival 2000
http://www.pcschicago.org/sf/Past/00/2000NR.htm

PUNJABI SPORTS FESTIVAL 2001
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) will be hosting Chicagoland's
7th annual healthy community fair "Punjabi Sports Festival 2001" on Saturday,
August 11, 2001, 9am-6pm at Winston Campus Grounds, 900 E. Palatine Rd.,
Palatine, IL. There will be many sports events for Punjabi men, women, youth
and children of all ages. ADMISSION is FREE. Free breakfast, kool-aid and
lunch will be served. This event is also cosponsored by Ethnic and Cultural
Diversity committee of Vision in Progress.
Kabaddi, Soccer, Basketball and Volleyball teams tournament will start early
due to a packed schedule of juniors, adults and women's teams. Athletic
events will include Olympic style races for different age groups, Shot Put,
Discus Throw and Weight Lifting. Individual participants can register before
or on the day of the event. Kabaddi match between
Milwaukee/Indianapolis/Chicago teams will be the highlight of the festival.
Ms. Rita Mullins, Mayor of Palatine and Ms. Suzie Bassi, State Representative
are confirmed to inaugurate the Festival. Other dignitaries are also invited
including Governor, Senators, Congressmen and State representatives. A parade
of the participants will be held during opening ceremonies at 10:30am.
"Bhangra Aerobics" class, demonstration of Sikh martial arts GATKA, Prize
distribution to the winners, Punjabi DJ, Open air Bhangra and cultural
performances will mark the fun-filled day.

This is an all day event we recommend that you bring lawn chairs &/or cooler.
Booths for food, Arts & Crafts, boutique are also being planned. Interested
vendors can display and sell their products. Children Teams have already been
practicing every Sunday at YMCA
Chicago Children's Museum will have their special children activity booth at
the festival from 11am-4pm

Trophies/medals will be awarded to the first & second place athletes for
individual sports and for the team players. Kabaddi Cup, Soccer Cup,
Volleyball Cup and Basketball Cup will be awarded to the winner team. Special
Cash Award of $1,000 will be given to the winning Kabaddi team.
PCS seeks SPONSORS/DONORS for the Festival and they will be appropriately
recognized at the Festival.
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3)
organization with Internal Revenue Services ID # 37-1321120 and your
donations made to PCS are tax deductible to the extent permitted by IRS.
For directions to the Winston Campus
Click here: MapQuest : Winston Campus direction Map

If you haven't registered your teams/name to compete in PCS 7th annual
Punjabi Sports Festival, you can do that on line through PCS website.
click here: Participant Registration Form
http://www.pcschicago.org/sf/form.htm
or complete participant registration form at the end of this e-mail.

Following is the deadlines for the team/individual entrees
Basketball/Volleball teams: by August2 2, 2001
Kabaddi/Soccer/Field Hockey/GATKA: by August 8, 2001
Athletics/Races/Shot put/Weight Lifting by August 11th noon.

BASKETBALL & VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT:  To accommodate all the teams and
players, just like previous years, the Basketball and Volleyball games will
be held at Winston Campus Grounds in Palatine on Sunday, August 5th,
11am-5pm, a week before the Punjabi Sports Festival. Finals will be held on
Punjabi Sports Festival on August 11th. Teams are being formed now.
Interested players please give your names to Bhagwant S. Sandhu (847)
462-0742, Amarjit K. Atwal at (847) 564-4735, Bhinder S. Pamma (847)
991-8689, Jagmeet Singh (847) 215-6639 or any PCS Board of Director. E-mail
to SportsFestival@PCSChicago.org
Those who have already entered their teams, they will be informed via
phone/e-mail about their schedule match.

or contact
PUNJABI CULTURAL  SOCIETY of Chicago
(847) 359-5PCS  or (847) 359-5727, Fax: (847) 359-1107
P. O.  BOX 1244,  PALATINE, IL. 60078
P.C.S. E-mail info@PCSChicago.org
PCS Website: http://www.PCSChicago.org
or  Click here: Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago

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