Bangladesh is set to celebrate the ‘International Sports Day’ today (Friday) as elsewhere in the globe in a befitting manner.
Following a decision by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the day is being celebrated on April 6 each year since 2014, creating a historical link to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing the success of the day.
President Hamid in his message said games and sports are a part of life and play an important role in flourishing talents and thinking of children and young people as an amusement.
“The games and sports create competitive attitude, discipline, perseverance, responsibility and duty,” he said.
At international level, the President said, sports play an supportive role in increasing the identity and honour of the country. “Sports play a supportive role in establishing world brotherhood,” he said.
President Hamid said the present government is implementing massive programmes for the development of sports. An wakening has been created in the country’s sports arena thanks to establishment of sport infrastructures from the district to upazila levels, he said.
The President also hoped that the country’s sports will go ahead further with the combined effort of all and will bring more laurels from international arena.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said games and sports are an art and their main motto is to create competitive attitude.
She said sports are essential for the healthy body and mind and they create love for the country and nation. “Sports teach discipline, perseverance, responsibility, tolerance and accelerate flourishing of culture,” she said.
Whenever Awami League formed government, she said, it gave priority to sports by building different sports infrastructures from village to city and created scope for better training for the sportspersons.
The premier said her government has also increased financial allocation for the expansion of sports.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Sports Council (NSC) will bring out rally in the capital today (Friday), marking the ‘International Sports Day’.
The rally will start from Bangabandhu National Stadium gate no one at 7 am and will terminate at NSC after passing through Secretariat, Shikkha Bhaban and High Court. It will be followed by a seminar at the NSC.
Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy will be present at the rally along with current and former sportspersons and sports organizers.
On the occasion, the Bangladesh Women’s Sports Association will organize a daylong rural competition at 11 am at Dhanmondi Sultana Kamal Women’s Sports Complex.
As many as 40 participants from four teams will compete in the meet.
