9,309 athletes, 10 venues: Kerala School Sports Meet opens today in Kozhikode amid red alert
Kozhikode: The 68th Kerala State School Sports Meet begins in Kozhikode on Sunday, with more than 9,000 student athletes from across the state set to compete over seven days amid concerns over heavy rain.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will inaugurate the meet at 4 pm at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) ground in Chathamangalam. P.T. Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association and brand ambassador of the event, will light the ceremonial torch. General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen will preside over the inaugural ceremony.
The meet, being held in the Olympic-style format for the third time, will feature competitions across 10 venues over seven days. A total of 9,309 students are expected to take part, including 28 students from schools in the Gulf region.
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Heavy rain raises concerns over competitions
Persistent rain in Kozhikode has raised concerns about the smooth conduct of the sporting events. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the district for the next two days following heavy rainfall.
Kozhikode recorded 122 mm of rain on Friday and Saturday. However, organisers have said there will be no changes to the competition schedule or venues.
Temporary galleries have been arranged at the NIT ground for spectators. Around 1,000 volunteers and 2,000 officials are expected to support the conduct of the meet.
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March past, cultural programmes mark opening
The opening ceremony will include a march past involving around 4,000 athletes, along with cultural programmes featuring nearly 3,000 students.
The event will also host inclusive athletics competitions for children with special needs. Organisers have framed this year's meet around the anti-drug message, “Say No to Drugs”.
Chief Minister’s Trophy procession reaches Kozhikode
A procession carrying the Chief Minister’s Trophy, weighing 117.5 sovereigns of gold, has reached Kozhikode at 9 am on Sunday. The trophy will be awarded to the overall champions of the meet.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for October 31 at 4 pm and will be inaugurated by Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Anju Bobby George, senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India, is expected to attend as the chief guest.