Dalai Lama grants special audience to participating teams off GCM 

Tsering Choephel

DHARAMSALA, 6 June: His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an audience to all participants of the 28th Gyalyum Chemo Memorial Football tournament at his residence at Tsuklakhang, Mcleod Ganj. 

Players and coaches from the 16 teams, the executive members, the organising team and referees received the special audience of the Dalai Lama earlier today.

Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) presented the newly launched Tibetan National team jersey to the Dalai Lama during the audience.

The teams were grouped into four pools for the leagues-cum-knockout gold cup tournament. 

The tournament is being held at Tibetan Children’s Village Upper football ground. For the second year in the run, no teams from south Tibetan settlements are participating in the tournament.   

Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC/GCM) football tournament, the biggest sporting event in the exile Tibetan community was initiated in 1981 in memory of the mother of His Holiness, Diki Tsering, known as Gyalgyum Chenmo – ‘The Great Mother.’’

Fortunately, the rainy days at the end of last month changed into pleasant weather for the joy of everyone who looked forward to this event.