The maestro left for Kwangju, South Korea, to participate in the Youth Leadership Program to be held from August 22 to September 3.
Republica caught up with Acharya to talk about the program he’s participating in.[break]
Could you tell us more about the program?
The program is being organized by the UNOSDP in collaboration with the NGO Right to Play. The camp will bring together young players from Asia and Oceania who have been identified as future leaders and role models in the field of sports. They’ll be provided with access to theoretical and practical training on how sports can be better used to bring positive changes in their communities. Wilfried Lemke, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace, will be attending the opening ceremony.
How were you selected?
I had submitted an application along with my resume and was interviewed by the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) Geneva personnel over the phone. I’m the only Nepali Taekwondo player selected for the camp this time.
What are the activities involved during the tour?
I’ll be participating in a presentation competition during the forum day on August 23. The topic for the competition is ‘Sport Development.’ I’ll be giving presentations on the topic of ‘Disabled-friendly infrastructure development for the sports.’ I’ll also be participating in the swimming camp, archery camp and football camp.
How do you think will the camps be beneficial for you in a personal level, and for Nepal?
On personal level, the camp is a chance for me to represent Nepal in the international arena and share my ideas. I believe I’ll also learn a lot from the facilitators as well as fellow players from different countries.
After my I return, I’ll be teaching young players about whatever I learnt there. This way, I believe, the sports of Nepal will also be uplifted in some ways. Since I’m also a student of architecture, I expect that I’ll get ideas about infrastructure development for sports. One of the major reasons why Nepal is lagging behind in sports is due to the lack of infrastructures. So I hope I’ll be able to bring in some positive changes.
Related story
Pokhara aspiring as a water sports destination
