Monday, August 27, 2007

AMNGR-Murman Receives Funding from Regional Government

BOULDER, Colorado -- Struggling bandy club AMNGR-Murman Murmansk received good news Monday when the government of the Murmansk Region announced it would provide funding for the team this upcoming season, according to the regional news agency Bi-Port.

The funding comes as part of a budget passed for supporting physical education and sports in the region in 2007-2010. As a result, the team will now be able to participate in the regular season tournament as well as some international play.

Due to financial difficulties, the team has been unable to play in the first round of the Russian Cup, currently taking place in Moscow.

The team got into these dire straits partly as a result of changes to the play-off format last season. AMNGR-Murman was forced to make several road trips to Siberia and the Far East for play-off games, and the unanticipated travel costs totaled approximately 5 million rubles (US$200,000), according to the governor of the Murmansk Region.

The new funding package for the team includes discretionary funding for this season should similar unexpected costs arise.

No comments: