Dharamsala: Tibetan Sports Association (TSA) is organizing the 18th Gyalyum Chemo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC) Football Tournament at Upper TCV School Ground from 26th May to 5th June 2012 The tournament is held in loving memory of the late mother of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama.
It began in the year 1981 and has continued till date with much fervor and enthusiasm within the Tibetan community.
The Guests of Honor for the inaugural ceremony on 26th May include Mr. Baichung Bhutia, Indian football icon and the former Indian Football Captain, Mr. Penpa Tsering, Chairman of ATPD (Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies) and Mr. Tim Brown, the former New Zealand footballer.
Dr. Lobsang Sangye, Honorable Kalon Tripa, will be the Chief Guest during the closing ceremony scheduled on 5th June 2012.
Out of the twenty four clubs registered, seventeen clubs from India/Nepal have confirmed their participation for this year's tournament. The tournament will be played according to the league cum knockout system. The teams are divided into six pools. The top most and second ranking amongst the pool will qualify for quarter finals. Each team will have minimum of two games to play.
The last three league matches (1st to 3rd June) and four quarter finals will be played at Lower TCV School ground and the rest of the matches will be played at Upper TCV School ground.
An organizing committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Sonam Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Dharamsala has been formed. The committee comprises of Executive Committee Members of Tibetan Sports Association including other members of Tibetan Non Governmental Organization based in Dharamsala.
Following the opening ceremony, the first ever official Tibetan women's football team will take the field for a historic exhibition match with the Himachal Pradesh women's football team.
Ms Manjushree S Roy has designed the Uniform for the girl's team and her NGO, Verve Creative Entertainment and Education Foundation has sponsored the uniform as well. It will be launched during the opening ceremony of the tournament.
The Tibetan Sports Association thanked the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the constant support and management of TCV and the individuals in particular for providing logistic support whenever needed.
