Chennai: Sports minister Aadhav Arjuna on Monday said state govt will create a dedicated Olympic action plan to identify and train athletes from a young age, while focusing on expanding sports infrastructure across the state. After inspecting Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium’s sports hostel facilities, diet provided to athletes, and training routines at the stadium, where he once stayed as a student, he told reporters, “Tamil Nadu lacks an Olympic-level sporting vision and continues to focus largely on school and national-level competitions. The state has not produced an individual Olympic medallist, but we have won in group events.” He added that Odisha’s focus on sports development over the past decade was a model.“Countries such as the US and Russia identify Olympic targets from the age of eight. We need that kind of planning here too,” he said. Referring to sports as an important tool to deter drug and liquor use among youngsters, Aadhav said the sports department must be viewed on a par with the education department. “This is the chief minister’s vision. Sports is equally important because it can help channel youngsters in the right direction,” he said, adding that several nations transformed youth participation and created employment opportunities through sports. “Brazil had a drug problem, but their govt pushed sports and football strongly. Many poor countries have uplifted youngsters through sports in this way,” he said.The minister said govt would concentrate on Olympic and Asian Games sports, as well as traditional games such as Jallikattu and Silambam. He added that the state would pursue plans for a sports city project and improve infrastructure, including the construction of a proposed 30,000-capacity stadium. “We have not hosted national games so far, although Uttarakhand has. In 1994, we had an international football event, but nothing after that. We will take this up with PM Modi,” he said.Velachery MLA R Kumar, meanwhile, inspected public amenities and cleanliness measures at Besant Nagar beach and later reviewed operations at the Velachery-Taramani solid waste dumping site, directing officials to improve upkeep and adopt sustainable waste management practices. At Besant Nagar beach, the MLA reviewed the functioning of the sand-cleaning machine and told officials to ensure regular operations. He also inspected public toilets, gym facilities and fishermen shops, issuing directions to improve hygiene and maintenance standards.
