THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a tribute to the Indian volleyball legend who would have turned 61 on March 8, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Kerala has named the indoor stadium and adjoining facilities at Vellayambalam here as the Jimmy George Sports Hub on Monday.
The Sports Hub which includes the Jimmy George Indoor Stadium, the renovated swimming pool, gymnasium and a state-of-the-art high altitude training centre, was inaugurated by Kerala State Sports Council president and former athlete Anju Bobby George.
A photo gallery, which chronicles the life of Jimmy right from his childhood, triumphs with the Indian national volleyball team and his stint in Italy, has been set up at the indoor stadium with an objective to inspire the new generation of sportspersons.
Newspaper cuttings from the heydays of his career to his death in a car accident in Italy on November at the age of 32 is on display at the gallery as is the iconic ‘Number 10’ jersey he donned for Team India.
“The indoor stadium in the name of Jimmy is today equipped with facilities for indoor sports like badminton, volleyball, etc. We hope that the Sports Hub and gallery will inspire the sportspersons and produce a new crop of international athletes from Kerala,” said Sports and Youth Affairs director Sanjayan Kumar.
Jimmy, who represented the nation at three Asian Games -- Tehran in 1974, Bangkok in 1978 and Seoul in 1986 -- is considered the greatest volleyball player produced by India. First playing for Kerala at the age of 16, the Kannur-born star also represented the state at nine nationals. “It is a great initiative by the directorate to name this excellent facility in the name of the volleyball legend,” said Sports Council president Anju, who is married to Robert Bobby George, the younger brother of Jimmy.
LNCPE principal G Kishore, former athletes K M Beenamol and Bobby Alloysius, ward councilor Ayesha Backer, Sports Council administrative board member S Najumuddin, Jimmy Geroge Foundation’s Sebastian George and additional director Baiju Krishnan were among those who were present on the occasion.