Revive university sports

Now that the talent search at school level has been initiated by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), we should also look in to the possibility of reviving our university sports.

On several occasions though this column, I have stressed the importance of paying more attention on university sports. But neither the Sports Ministry nor the Higher Education Ministry has paid any attention to revive university sports.

In the past it was the universities that mostly fed the national teams with outstanding youth. In some cases, it was virtually the university team that formed the national team in some sports in the past. But what do we witness today? It's hard to find an undergraduate in a national team.

What is the reason for the deteriorating standards in the university sport? Why don't we experience the high standard of university sports we experienced three to four decades ago?

Perhaps, the unnecessary and unhealthy level of competitiveness to gain university admission have made students dull and monotonous. Since their Ordinary level to Advanced Level, they are engaged in an endless battle and competitiveness. Most of them have turned out to be mere machines, working up to maximum capacity to face the huge battle in securing a placement in an university.

Even though they end that competition after the Advanced Levels and gain admission to university, the undergraduates often find it hard to get out of that mentality. Most of them continue to remain as bookworms, without any recreation or social life.

The poor undergraduates should not be blamed for it because it's the mentality they have had during their school life, preparing for the 'university admission battle' right from the Kindergarten level.

From Grade One, most parents push their children towards the Grade Five scholarship examination, which would give the winners the 'luxury' of a popular school. But the 'race' does not end there as from Grade six, it will be the race for the Ordinary Level examination.

From the OLs, the mega race for the Advanced Level hurdle would begin. There is no end to this bitter battle.

Hence, during the ten to eleven year stint at school, students have been trained like machines. As a result, they tend to remain as machines even after entering university.

This is a vital area we should focus on if we are to revive our university sport.

Probably the fresh undergraduates could undergo some brainstorming sessions and a few specialised lectures etc.

Nevertheless, still there is room to develop university sports in a big way, if the authorities are genuinely interested in doing so. The Higher Education Ministry, perhaps, may be clueless in drafting a proposal to revive our university sports.

This is where the Ministry of Sports could play a major role. Together with the National Sports Associations (NSAs), the Ministry of Sports should initiate a constructive programme to revive our university sports.

Still, there is plenty of talent in the universities and there are resource persons as well. People of the calibre of B.L.H. Perera could play a big role in reviving university sports.

There again finances could be the biggest hurdle. Unlike the good old days, the rural undergraduates would find it hard to indulge in sports owing to financial constrains. If Each university could find their own principal sponsor, finances would not be a big problem.

But in return, the universities must make sure their sponsors get adequate mileage. They should give enough display areas in order to protect the interests of the sponsor. Unlike other institutions, universities could give big publicity and mileage to sponsors. Hence, I don't see any problem in finding sponsors for university sports.

But what matters is marketing communication skills. It should not be a kind of a donation given to a Government institution. It should be a mutually beneficial business association.

After securing a sponsorship, every endeavour should be made to protect the interests of the sponsor. If the university sports administrators market their sports activities in a professional manner, there is plenty of room to attract big time sponsors.

Just as the universities recruit quality lecturers, they should also identify potential sports and secure services of experienced coaches to sharpen the skills of the undergraduates. There should be a considerable financial allocation for this.

On the other hand, promotion of sports activities in the university system in an organised manner would also reduce student unrest and unnecessary clashes amongst student groups, for which some universities are notorious.

If the undergraduates could sharpen their skills in the field of sports that would put them in better shape to do their studies well.

Under the circumstances, improving the standard of university sports would be beneficial to undergraduates, the society as well as to the country's sports image. Hence, we must make every effort to concentrate on the university system to find tomorrow's sporting heroes.