District Olympic Games to Begin from January 8th

KOCHI:
The district level games, which will determine the athletes and teams that are going to represent the district in the inaugural Kerala State Olympic Games will be held from January 8 to 16 on various venues in the district. The inauguration of the district level events will be held at Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium, Kadavanthra. The valedictory and prize distribution will also be held at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kadavanthra on 16th January.

Competitions in as many as 24 events will be held during the district level games. They are Athletics, Aquatics, Archery, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Football, Judo, Netball, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Wrestling, Shuttle badminton, Handball, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Hockey, Table tennis, Karate, Rugby, Shooting (rifle), Wushu, Tennis and Weight lifting. Individual athletes, colleges, organizations and clubs affiliated to relevant sports and games associations can compete in the events.

The winners in the individual events will represent Ernakulam district in the Kerala State Olympic Games that is being held in Thiruvananthapuram in February next year. The teams that will represent the district will be constituted by selecting players who display excellent performance in district level competitions. The team selection for each event will be done by a committee comprising the district association president/secretary of the respective games, a district Olympic association official, two sportspersons who have played the game in international or national level and a National Institute of Sports certified coach from the district.

A reception committee has been formed with Binoy Joseph as chairman, C K Sanil as general convener and Sajeev S Nair as treasurer for the conduct of the district level competitions. Elected representatives and prominent sportspersons from the district are also part of the organizing committee.

Kerala State Olympic Games organized by a state Olympic association is the first of its kind event in the country. It will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from February 15 to 24. Strict Covid protocols will be followed during the conduct of the games.

Ernakulam District Olympic association chairman Binoy joseph, Kerala Olympic association Senior Vice- president P. Mohandas, Ernakulam district Olympic association convenor C.K.Sanil, Kerala Gymnastic association Executive committee member Sajiv S Nair, Ernakulam district rifle association secretary Shivshankar Reghu attended the press conference.