Foreign Ambassadors to participate in President's Cup golf tournament

The Ambassadors of a number of foreign states will participate in the 9th charity golf tournament for the President of Russia's Cup, which is to begin at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club at Nakhabino on Monday.

As one of the tournament's organizers - head of the Directorate for Rendering Services to the Diplomatic Corps of the Russian Foreign Ministry Ivan Sergeyev told RIA Novosti, foreign diplomats working in Russia participate in the Nakhabino competitions every year.

"The Ambassadors of South Africa, Kenya and Slovenia will take part in the 2004-tournament," Mr. Sergeyev said.

The tradition of staging the President's Cup tournament was started by Boris Yeltsin in 1996. In the past five years the tournament was held under Vladimir Putin's patronage. The date of the tournament - May 31, the eve of the International Children's Day, is undeviatingly observed. All the financial resources collected in the tournament of 2004 will be transferred to children's establishments. The organizers plan to raise $30,000 this year.

The 2004-President's Cup competition was opened with the performance of a children's jazz band, and the entrants would enjoy a merry entertainment program throughout the tournament. The children's home named after famous Russian clown Yuri Nikoulin will present a special circus program.

The organizers have also prepared a special prize - a golf club inscribed with the winner's name - for the most talented junior.

Golf in Russia turned 16 in 2004. The interest in this sport has been growing. According to the GOLF DIGEST magazine's data, today the number of the Russians playing golf is coming close to 15,000.

The first international exhibition of the golf industry 2004-Golf Expo took place in Moscow in May.