Grassroots Cultural Grant Aid for the Youth and Sports Department in the Governorate of Al-Muthanna, Iraq

December 13, 2005

1. The Government of Japan has decided to extend grassroots cultural grant aid of about 800,000 dollars in total (about 86 million yen) for the Youth and Sports Department in the Governorate of Al-Muthanna, Iraq, to improve the field tracks of the Olympic stadium in the Governorate.
2. The stadium of the Governorate of Al-Muthanna is used for football and other sports. As the facility was extremely dilapidated from the long-lasting ravages of war and other causes, Japan, under its FY2004 Grassroots Cultural Grant Aid, provided assistance for the renovation of the structure of the stadium, and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force improved its pitch. However, the bad condition of the field tracks is causing the detriment of track and field activities in the Governorate. The assistance will be extended to provide funds necessary to repair the field tracks of the stadium and to contribute to revitalizing the run-down athletic sports of the Governorate.
3. Japan has decided to extend the term of its Self Defense Forces' dispatch to Iraq. As part of Japan's reconstruction assistance for Iraq, this aid is expected to contribute to bringing up youth through promotion of sports, promoting sports exchange between Japan and Iraq, and to building up the morale of the Iraqi citizens engaged in creating a new state.

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