Kathmandu, Nepal, September 23, 2021: The Nepal Olympic Committee paid tribute to former President and Honorary President Rukma SJB Rana on Wednesday, September 22.
The programme began with a minute of silence in the memory of Mr. Rana, who passed away on September 10 at the age of 85. He had been President of the Nepal Olympic Committee from 1998 to 2007 and had also led the National Sports Council, Football, Taekwondo, Athletics and Ski Associations.
Nepal NOC President Hon. Jeevan Ram Shrestha observed that Mr. Rana had made a great contribution to sports in Nepal and said credit must be given to him for establishing and raising the profile of the Olympic movement in the country.
“Mr. Rana has made the biggest contribution by bringing the Nepalese Olympic to where it is now,” President Shrestha said.
An Advisor to the NOC and former Minister Sarat Singh Bandari said Mr. Rana had been a good guardian for Nepali sports and its athletes while the President of Nepal Taekwondo Association, Prakash Shamsher Rana, spoke of the invaluable contribution his predecessor had made to the sport of taekwondo.
In his tribute, Nepal NOC Secretary General Nilendra Raj Shrestha said that Mr. Rana had always wanted a dispute-free environment for sports in the country. “If Nepalese sports moves forward unitedly, it will be a true tribute to the late Mr. Rana,” he said.
Representing the family members who were present on the occasion, Anil Keshari Shah said that Mr. Rana had always had a great love for Nepali sports and its athletes.
Also present at the homage to the former President were members of the NOC executive committee and Olympians.
