Novel programme helps unearth future sports stars

The sports grounds at the Neluwa National School were filled with laughter, energy and cheers as over 200 children between the ages of 12–18 years participated in a special sports camp for children recently.

The two-day event brought together national level coaches and trainers in four sports - netball, volleyball, race walking and athletics who provided both theory and practical knowledge to the children.

This initiative was organised by World Vision's Neluwa Area Development Programme (ADP) in coordination with the Sports Ministry of the Southern Province. The event helped unearth some hidden talents and also introduce sports as a useful tool for character building.

"I've been involved with sports in the Galle District for the past 31 years, but we have never had a sports camp of this nature," says Chandrakumara Jayasekera, Sports Director, Galle District.

"When we have meets, there is hardly any participation from these villages, but these two days we have seen some amazing sporting talents among the children here.

With proper training some of them can easily qualify to compete at the district level and I have asked the coaches to note down their names," he said.

"My friends and I signed up for race-walking but never thought it would be so refreshing," smiles Samalka (15), "we learnt so many new things about walking – posture, techniques. I really enjoy walking now. I am going to share what I learnt here with my other friends back in the village."

"There's no common playground for the children in the rural villages of Neluwa and they hardly spend time in extra curricular activities such as sports. We thought this would be a good opportunity for them to not only discover their sports talents, but also to introduce the value of sports for their growth and health," said Suresh Fernando, Neluwa ADP, who was also in charge of the programme.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the sports camp, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs of Southern Province U G D Ariyathilake commended the efforts of World Vision to bring out the sports talents of children in the rural areas and said, "We must come together in supporting these children at village level".

The minister encouraged the children saying that poverty and lack of facilities should not be barriers for them to continue in sports and assured them, the fullest support of the ministry. "All of us would not be able to compete at national or international levels, but all of us can use sports to grow in both mind and body," he said.