State making strong interventions in sports sector: Balagopal

Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal inaugurated the 67th Kerala School Sports Meet, modelled after the Olympics, at a function at the University Stadium here on Tuesday.

He said that the State government had been making strong interventions in the sports sector, especially with the setting up of stadium infrastructure in different parts of the State, to ensure a better future for the sportspersons from the State.

He expressed hope that the State School Sports Meet, with a participation of over 22,000 students, their parents, teachers and officials, would become a platform for sportsmanship, friendships and brotherhood.

Equal opportunities

General Education Minister V. Sivankutty who presided over the function said that the sports meet was being organised by upholding the principle of equal opportunities for all children, with the Inclusive Sports meet providing an opportunity for differently abled children.

The sports meet is expanding beyond the borders of the State with students from Kerala syllabus schools in the United Arab Emirates competing in the festival this time. The inclusion of Kerala’s traditional martial art form of Kalaripayattu in the general category is also noteworthy.

The ceremony began with footballer I.M. Vijayan and Mr. Sivankutty lighting the ceremonial torch. Cricketer Sanju Samson, the brand ambassador of the meet, and actor Keerthy Suresh, the goodwill ambassador, extended their wishes to the students ahead of the week-long meet.

In the lead-up to the event, the Chief Minister’s Trophy has been on a ceremonial relay across all 14 districts. The ceremony, which commenced at Neeleswaram in Kasaragod on October 16, reached Thiruvananthapuram district on Sunday and was accorded a reception at Government Higher Secondary School, Thattathumala. The trophy procession travelled through all constituencies in the district on Monday.

The meet’s organising headquarters has been set up at Shikshak Sadan in Thiruvananthapuram and 16 dedicated subcommittees are actively coordinating preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. A massive dining area that can accommodate 2,500 people at a time has been set up at Putharikandam Maidan. An exhibition showcasing a decade of Kerala’s sporting achievements has also been arranged at the venue.

Seventy-four schools have been converted into temporary hostels to accommodate the athletes. As many as 142 buses have been allocated to ferry students. Sanitation and e-toilet facilities are also in place at all grounds and hostels.