Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101353421800.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Governor to inaugurate Sports Day celebrations

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Elaborate arrangements have been made by the Kerala State Sports Council to suitably celebrate the birth centenary of its founder president late Col. G.V. Raja falling on Monday. The State-level celebrations to take place here will be inaugurated by the Kerala Governor, R.S. Gavai, at a civic function to be held at the VJT hall on Monday evening.

Besides officially proclaiming the State cabinet’s decision to observe October 13 as Kerala Sports Day, the Governor will also distribute the cash awards for medal winners in the various National championships and inaugurate the revamped ‘Operation Olympia’ project.

Though a little over Rs. 1.40 crore is to be given away as cash awards to around 1,200 sportspersons, the Governor will be distributing these awards to only a select group of 10 to 12 athletes. The Sports Minister, M. Vijayakumar, will preside over the function which is also expected to be attended by the Thiruvananthapuram MP, Panniyan Ravindran, MLAs, V. Sivankutty and V. Surendran Pillai and the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor, C. Jayan Babu.

A colourful procession from Central stadium, to be attended by over 1,000 sportspersons from various disciplines, is also being organised as part of the celebrations.

In the morning, the KSSC will be organising a round table session with the theme of ‘Broad basing Sports in Kerala — Evolving a Strategy’ at the Government Guest House, Thycaud.

Over 50 experts are to be deliberate on the three ambitious projects — the Total Physical Fitness Programme, introduction of sports into the educational curriculum and the ‘Operation Olympia’ project — at the session to be inaugurated at 10 a.m. by the Sports Minister.

Elsewhere, the celebrations will be organised by the respective District Sports Councils.

Lakhs of school students are also expected to take part in the celebrations by joining a special morning assembly in their respective schools, across the State, and taking a pledge to uphold the principles for which G.V. Raja stood all his life.