Seeking to spark passion
In the quest to create a buzz at the grassroots level, the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is all set to start the first-ever Bangladesh Youth Games amid great enthusiasm from athletes and organisers at the upazila level.
Approximately 24,000 athletes from 360 upazilas across the 64 districts are expected to take part in 20 disciplines in the inaugural edition, starting across the country from Monday. Nearly 10,500 technical officials and 4,000 coaches and trainers are also expected to be involved with the Games, which will be held in three phases -- district, divisional and final.
The Games are being held at a time when there are hardly any sporting activities beyond the capital and the initiative is expected to bring some life to the country's sports, although there may be some limitations to holding such a big event at the upazila level.
The BOA hosted the Bangladesh Games in 2013 and the South Asian Games in 2010 but the Youth Games will be the biggest in terms of participation.
The Youth Games was first discussed in 2014, when current vice-president and former footballer Badal Roy raised the issue and the BOA has taken nearly three years to give the tournament a final shape. They have already held a few meetings at the divisional level with the involvement of government officials to ensure participation of all 64 districts and to make it a success.
Yesterday, the higher-ups of the BOA held a view exchange meeting with sports editors from different print and electronic media. The journalists suggested the concerned authorities to hold the Games regularly to create and sustain interest among the youth instead of thinking of producing stars, thereby bringing back a sporting environment across the country which would gradually impact the outcomes at domestic and international level.
BOA vice president and media committee chairman Sheikh Bashir Ahmed informed that they will have torch rallies on December 17 and hold the opening ceremony on December 18 in all 64 districts.
Of the 20 disciplines, football (5,040), athletics (4,410), Kabaddi (3,200), Swimming (2,600) and volleyball (2,500) will see a good number of budding athletes taking part in the Games, which will be concluded in Dhaka through the final phase from March 9-17 next year.
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