Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the meet at the University Stadium at 4 PM on October 21. The opening ceremony will commence with the athletes’ march past. Following this, Indian football legend I.M. Vijayan will light the torch along with the Minister of General Education, V. Sivankutty. The Leader of the Opposition, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and other public representatives will attend the function.
Cricketer Sanju Samson is the Brand Ambassador for the event, and film star Keerthy Suresh is the Goodwill Ambassador.
After the inauguration, cultural programs showcasing Kerala’s cultural heritage and traditions will be staged, featuring around 3,000 children and a grand march past with 300 children from each district.
Minister of General Education V. Sivankutty announced in a press conference that all arrangements for the meet are complete, overseen by 16 sub-committees.
The sports competitions will take place across 12 venues from October 22 to 28. Over 20,000 athletes, including 1944 from Inclusive Sports, will participate. A total of 35 students, including 12 girls, from seven Kerala-syllabus schools in the Gulf region are also participating this year. Around 1,000 officials and 2,000 volunteers will be part of the major sporting event.
The district that scores the highest points will be awarded the Chief Minister’s Gold Cup. The trophy tour, which started on October 16, reached Thiruvananthapuram on the 19th and will be taken to the University Stadium on the 21st. The torch relay, which began on October 19th from Ernakulam, will join the trophy procession on the 21st.
A large dining hall with the capacity to seat around 2,500 people simultaneously has been arranged at Puthenrikandam Maidan, along with five other kitchens. An extensive exhibition detailing Kerala’s sports achievements over the last ten years is also being held there. Seventy-four schools have been specially prepared for athlete accommodation, and 142 buses have been arranged for transportation.
Sanitization and e-toilet facilities are set up at the grounds and accommodation sites. Security is ensured by the Police and Excise departments at both locations, with the latter monitoring against the sale of prohibited products. The Medical Committee has arranged comprehensive facilities, including Allopathy, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sports Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, and Sports Medicine, along with ambulance services and dedicated medical teams. The athlete registration process is currently underway.
with input from Keralanews.gov
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
