Chennai: Tamil Nadu will introduce a special education system for students staying in sports hostels across the state, sports minister Aadhav Arjuna said in assembly. The proposed system is aimed at helping young athletes balance intensive training with academics as the state seeks to build a stronger pipeline of athletes for Olympics.
Presenting his maiden demand for grants, Arjuna said children as young as eight would be identified through schools and housed in sports hostels to nurture their sporting talent.
“After vigorous practice between 5.30am and 8.30am, they will not be able to focus on classes in school. So, we need to create a special education system for them like in Singapore and US,” he said. He also called for a long-term vision for Olympics and said children should get at least an hour of physical activity every day. “Children sit in class for hours. They should get at least one hour to play per day. We should create a system for this like abroad. Children should also be taught to take care of their health,” he said.
The govt plans to establish an SDAT Talent Research Wing to identify promising athletes aged eight to 18 under an Olympic Talent Research programme with an allocation of ₹5 crore.
The govt has also proposed a TN Sports Act covering athlete protection, fair selection, transparency and safe sporting environments. Internal Complaints Committees will be established across districts.
The roadmap includes a TN traditional sports festival, with ₹42 crore earmarked to promote sports such as kabaddi, kho-kho, silambam, kalariyapattu and mallakhamb. A Singappen Sporting Festival will focus on encouraging women in sports.
