‘Making sports integral part of life, govt’s aim’ - Part II:

‘Yes’ to physical education in schools

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage recently presented the National Sports Policy of Sri Lanka to Parliament.

Following is the text of the speech.

7. Identification of talented sports persons

All schoolchildren and youth should be assessed to determine the potential they have for achieving high performance in Sport. It is important to subject all children and youth early to both, the established (a) subjective and (b) objective talent identification methodology to determine their true performance capacity and potential to achieve elite levels at major competitions.

8. From school to sports

Giving priority for sports education, training and physical health within the school curriculum.

In giving children an all round and balanced education, priority should be given for conducting a comprehensive physical education programme in schools so that all necessary physical features and skills are developed, academic performance in the classroom enhanced and a foundation upon which mass participation in sport is built.

9. Sports clubs for villages

All aspects of sport should be developed and taken to Grama Niladhari and Divisional Secretariat levels so that the whole country benefits from rare and specialist knowledge, expertise and experience found only in Colombo or other parts of the country.

A network of agencies and officials must be established with systems and processes put in place for the dissemination of knowledge, expertise, experience and resources from one place to all others, so that the entire population of Sri Lanka is serviced and benefits from the investment made in sports.

10. Assistance to Sports Clubs

Strengthening Provincial and National Sports Associations must be encouraged by the creation of more sports clubs located throughout the country.

Activity aimed at developing mass participation in community level sport must be consolidated by establishing pathways for new athletes to either strengthen existing clubs or support the creation of new clubs so that membership in all Provincial and National Sports Associations is increased.

11. Worldwide knowledge in sports

Creating opportunities for sports persons to gain access to new foreign training methodology, sport technology and specialist knowledge in all applicable fields must be pursued to enable them to compete on equal terms with overseas athletes at major international competitions.

The acquisition of the latest technical knowledge, training methods and other expertise is important to win at international level sports events. Sports persons should be assisted to gain access to all necessary resources whilst at the same time continually up-skilling local experts and building human capacity in Sri Lanka to conduct research and develop necessary expertise on its own at future points of time.

12. Women to the forefront in sports

Providing opportunities for women to engage in sports

The importance, value and benefits of participation in Sports should be illustrated to all women and steps taken to provide them access and opportunity to participate in sports for their own physical well-being, enjoyment and if applicable, achievement of the highest level of performance at major sporting events. It is also important to increase the percentage of female athletes in the Sri Lanka team participating at major events such as World Championships, the SAF, Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

13. Mature aged participants in sports

Providing opportunities for older age people to engage in sports

As people age, they are more prone to illness and need family support. Organizing sport activities for retirees and mature aged persons helps them not only to delay the onset of common illnesses that cost themselves and government money but also to increase mass participation in sport with their direct involvement, usually at non-peak times in sports facilities. There are several Masters level competitions and this is known to deliver an economic benefit of the host location.

14. Persons with special needs to the forefront in sports

Encouraging persons with special needs to take part in sports for the development of their mental and physical health, recreation and personality development.

Persons needing special attention due to natural causes or social calamities should be treated as an important section of the society and hence it is necessary to encourage them and provide facilities for them to engage in sports as a means of enjoyment, recreation, personality development and excellence at sporting competitions. Thus, they will form an integral part of the community. Sports bodies must establish mechanisms to integrate disabled persons in their mainstream activities.

15. A strong Sports Organizational Network through institutional development

Establishing and streamlining the legal framework of sports association development of management structures and sports programmes.

It is important to strengthen the legal, governance, management and operational aspects relating to sports institutions and agencies so as to ensure that they are dynamic, responsive and efficient in sport development, keep abreast of modern social trends and deliver their target outputs efficiently. To ensure accountability, action should be taken to ensure good governance, transparency in all activity and decision making and productivity in all institutes concerning sports with special emphasis on respect for law and decorum. A mechanism also needs be established to ensure uniformity and collaboration between the various agencies involved in the administration of sport.

16. Independence of sports organizations

Creating the environment necessary to ensure the independence of sports organization.

It is necessary to introduce legal provisions to ensure the election of independent persons to the sports organizations.

17. A collective approach for the development of sports

Taking action to develop sports through a co-ordinated approach by government and provincial council ministries in charge of sports. It should be mandatory to implement a co-ordinated approach by all institutes dealing with sports in government and provincial councils and plan out sports development programmes to include all national sports associations, provincial, district and regional level sports organizations in this programme. A National Strategic Plan for the overall development of sports should be established and followed by all identified stakeholders.

18. Sports facilities in villages

Encouraging the extension of physical facilities required for sports development throughout the country with the objective of taking sports to the village.

Development of sports facilities at village level must be undertaken according to a National Sport Infrastructure Development Plan with a view to uplifting sport talent of village youth, thus enabling them to receive appropriate training and expertise to win international sports competitions. A database of all facilities identifying their location the number in use, the type of sports serviced at each location and their structure, features and standards must be maintained. The overall maintenance and life-cycle costs must also be kept so that replacements are scheduled and all facilities remain fully functional at all times.

19. Pride of place for traditional sports

Encouragement to popularise and develop traditional national sports.

National sports originating from olden days which are a part and parcel of Sri Lankan culture should be cherished, popularized and the traditional knowledge about them preserved in society and protected for posterity. A programme of collecting and listing them should be commenced for their conservation.

To be continued