A new era to be added to Bangladesh sports history when the first ever Bangladesh Youth Games will begin today allover the country from today with great enthusiasm.
Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) with an aim to create national athletes for different disciplines has decided to stage the Bangladesh Youth Games in three phases.
In fact the Games have been already started with lighting the torch through torch-relay procession at district headquarters. Former national athletes of different disciplines and veteran organiers o the respective district took part in the torch-relay.
BOA secretary general Syed Shahed Reza stated this at a press conference at the BOA auditorium in the capital yesterday. BOA vice-president Kazi Bashir Ahmed and two deputy secretary generals Ashiqur Rahman Miku and Asaduzzaman Kohinoor were also present.
The BOA has included 21 disciplines for the Youth Games for Under-17 athletes. The first phase will be held from December 18 to 24 with the competitors from upazilas will compete in the district level. Then the successful athletes will earn the right to participate in the divisional level competition from January 6 to 15. Then the final round will take place in Dhaka from March 9 to 18. No corporation or services teams will be allowed to take part in the Games.
He said that the successful athletes from the Games will properly groom up to represent in the regional, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics in future. “We want to see more success in the regional games (SA Games), Asian Games and Olympics. We will pick up athletes from different disciplines in which Bangladesh has the prospect of winning medals,” said BOA secretary general.
“We will arrange long term training camp for those athletes under foreign coaches. And if needed a selective group will be sent abroad for training to hone their skills in their respective disciplines.”
He said that the BOA has prepared a budget of Taka 15 crore to run the Games. “The BOA is expected to collect the entire amount through different sponsors. We have already received Tk 2.88 crore and 80 per cent of they money had been distributed among the different hosts district sports association.. We hope the rest of the fund would come to our hands before the next phase,” said Shahed Reza. He noted the budget does not include the opening and closing ceremonies which will be held during the final phase in Dhaka.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed said that the BOA has decided to organise Youth Games with not only to find quality players for the national team but to keep the youth society away from anti-social activities.
He further added that the BOA has nominated 20 famed athletes of the country as goodwill ambassadors to encourage the youth athletes to follow their footsteps.
The 21 disciplines are: Football, kabaddi, basketball, volleyball, hockey, handball, athletics, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, ushu, shooting, archery, badminton, boxing chess, judo, karate and taekwondo.