Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) embark on a mission to unearth the future sports talents at all nooks and corners of Bangladesh as much awaited Bangladesh Youth Games kicks-off amidst great enthusiasm among athletes and organisers today (Monday) at all 64 districts.
The BOA hosted the Bangladesh Games in 2013 and the South Asian Games in 2010 but this Youth Games will be the biggest in terms of participation and possibly will reap harvest as it will enable the talents at the grass root to stamp their authorities what he or she is capable to do in the coming years.
Some 48118 participants including 23210 athletes from nearly 500 upazila of 64 districts are expected to take part in 21 disciplines and compete in three phases – district,
divisional and national- to create a buzz among the athletes and organisers.
BOA’s Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza talking to BSS on Sunday said, ” This Youth Games is a stepping stone for a budding athlete. He or She will catch eyes of the organiser from here they will be nursed and prepared for future stardom”.
Despite so many seen and unseen hindrances, BOA was brave enough to take stern steps to host this talent hunt program.”
This Youth Games, in which the 17-year-old athletes are eligible to take part, is the first of its kind in history of Bangladesh sports which however see Bangladesh Games with the participation of senior athletes is being held once in every four years.
This Youth Games has number of aims as to inspire and encourage the budding athletes across the country to come into sports, hunt the talented athletes and train them in future to build up strong youth teams as well as create organisers to run the sports at grass-root levels.
To make the four-month long Youth Games a success, torch rallies were held on Sunday at all headquarters of all 64 districts which will now host the district level competition with the participation of their upazila from tomorrow.
“Every necessary steps have already been taken to make this Games a success,” said Bangladesh Olympic Association secretary general Syed Shahed Reza at an official press conference at the BOA Bhabon on Sunday.
“We hope this initiative will create a sporting and festive environment in district level and we also expect that the new talented players and hard working organisers will surface through this Youth Games which is the largest one in term of participation in history of Bangladesh sports.”
Though the Games was initially supposed to hold at upazila level, it will now start at district level where the athletes from all district under that district will compete among themselves before being selected to represent the district at divisional phase and gradually represent their respective division at the final and national phase.
Media committee chairman Bashir Ahmed Mamun shared with the sports scribes this games was supposed to be held at upzila level but to some constrain BOA have decided that this year they will not be holding Games at upazila level due to a few limitations.
He went to add that this Games has already created enthusiasm among the athletes and organisers and requests from different district sports association for entries of their athletes are still pouring.
Mamun concluded his views that Lalmonirhat has basically no infrastructures for sports but they have come forward to get involved with the Games by sending athletes. This year’s Games will feature five disciplines including three disciplines which are team events such as football, volleyball, basketball, kabaddi, volleyball and handball.
To inspire the budding athletes, the BOA also nominated 20 former and current star players from different disciplines as goodwill ambassadors who will travel different venues to inspire the athletes.
They are former footballers Zakaria Pintu, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, Fazle Sadain Khokon, Imtiaz Sultan Jonny, Mohammad Muktar Ali, Amin Rana, Nilu, Mamunul Islam, former shooters Atiqur Rahman, Sabrina Sultana, Grand Master Niaz Murshed, cricketer Panna Gosh, SA Games gold medalist weightlifter Mabia Akter Simanta, former judocas Kamrun Nahar Hiru, national hockey captain Rasel Mahmud Jimmy.
SA Games Gold medalist swimmer Mahfuza Akter Shila, table tennis players Jobera Rahman Linu and Shamima Sattar Mimu, kabaddi player Abdul Jalil, former athlete Jatin Das, former cricketer Saiful Islam and former hockey player Ranjit Das.
Syed Shahed Reza informed that they have estimated Taka 15 crores to complete the Games and all money will be raised through the sponsors.
