KOZHIKODE: The Central government will support ‘Operation Olympia,’ an elite training programme to prepare the state’s athletes for the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. This was stated by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel during the launch of the Kerala State Sports Council website here on Thursday. Lauding the project, he said, “Operation Olympia is an ambitious project aimed at the development of promising sportspersons and it will receive the full support of the government.”
The minister also said the Central government would give scholarships for eight-year-old kids, who excel in various sports disciplines. “Rs 5 lakh each will be given to 1,000 prodigies. The selection of the kids will be through various SAI centres across the state and anyone who has exceptional abilities in sports can apply,” he added.
The programme will focus on 11 Olympic disciplines — athletics, badminton, shooting, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, swimming, cycling, boxing, wrestling, fencing and archery. “It is a Rs 400-crore project and we need the support of the Central government to fulfil it,” said Mr A.C. Modieen, Minister for Industries and Sports. MLAs A. Pradeep Kumar and M.K. Munir, district panchayat president Babu Parasseri, district collector U.V. Jose and Kerala Sports Council vice-president Mercy Kuttan attended the website launch.
