"Till date we are focusing on the national level. We now need to develop sports from the grassroots level," said NSC Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama. "Developing sports from school level could provide the start," said Lama.[break]
Lama said around 800 athletes under the age of 15 had participated in the 2012 London Olympics. "The average age of athletes in the London Olympics was 26. This amply shows what age group we should focus on," explained Lama in his attempt to justify NSC´s program aimed at school level.
"The international medals won by our athletes are the results of their individual effort and luck. It would be ridiculous for us to expect more medals at the international level since we do not have any program to produce athletes for international competitions," said Lama.
School Sports Development Board
To implement the idea, NSC has already formed School Sports Development Board (SSDB). The NSC board meeting on January 6 had decided to form SSDB under the leadership of NSC member secretary.
The newly formed board includes representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Private and Boarding School Organization Nepal (PABSON), National PABSON, Higher Secondary Schools Association of Nepal (HISSAN) and experts as well as representatives of other concerned agencies.
NSC has also established a separate department -- School Sports Development Department -- within it to implement its plans and programs.
School Sports Federation
Meanwhile, NSC has initiated the process to form School Sports Federation as the umbrella organization of 16 different school sports associations. NSC has already formed school sports associations of cricket, athletics, karate, taekwondo, wushu, volleyball, football, basketball, judo, badminton, table tennis, kabaddi, swimming, gymnastics, chess and baghchal.
"We have appointed principals and directors of renowned schools to lead the school sports associations and they are enthusiastic about contributing from their respective associations," said Lama.
According to Lama, the school sports associations will host national tournaments for junior athletes.
School Sports Teacher Course
Meanwhile, NSC has launched School Sports Teacher Course in order to prepare trained manpower for schools. Sports Academy Nepal (SAN), a department under NSC, has already completed level-I courses in different places. "This program will not only provide employment to the current and retired athletes but also provide trained sports teacher to the schools," said Lama.
Lama described it as one of the ambitious programs under his leadership. "We will prepare trained manpower for at least 9,000 schools in three years´ time," said Lama, "Private schools are showing great interest in this program and they are asking us to provide them trained teachers," claimed Lama.
In the level-I course, the participants were trained basic lessons of sports such as athletics, table tennis, football, volleyball, cricket and martial art games.
Sports Science in +2
Meanwhile, Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) is all set to introduce Sports Science Education and Sports Education as a new subject for +2 students. Subject Committee at HSEB has already approved the curriculum for grade XI and XII while the board meeting of HSEB and the Ministry of Education are preparing to approve the curriculum.
"Our ultimate aim is to establish Sports University and sports colleges in the country," said Lama. "We aim to develop trained manpower for sustainable development of sports," he added.
Five more sports added in President´s Running Shield
Meanwhile, NSC has decided to add five more sports in the current structure of the President´s Running Shield from next year. The current format of the President´s Running Shield, the school-level tournament, includes only athletics and volleyball events.
"We have decided to add five more sports -- karate, taekwondo, wushu, football and cricket -- in the President´s Running Shield. We have forwarded the NSC´s decision to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for approval," said Lama. "We hope it would be approved and the school level tournament would grow bigger and better," he added.
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