‘Olympian step’ to promote sports in state

‘Olympian step’ to promote sports in state

The slight delay of the state government in honouring the sportspersons and coaches from the state who participated in the London Olympics can now be pardoned.

The govt on Wednesday announced that all sportspersons who participated in the London Olympics will be given jobs with gazetted ranks.

This applies to the jobless as well as those working in lower ranks in the govt.

The decision was announced by the Chief Minister here while honouring the players and coaches who donned the national jersey in the London Olympics.

“The government is committed to promote sports in the state.

Sportspersons will be offered gazetted posts.

If they bring a medal in the next Olympics, they will be offered promotion.

Otherwise, they will have to wait for 10 years to earn a promotion,” he said.

“Lack of job security has been a perennial threat faced by the state’s sportspersons for long.

With the new decision, more people will come forward to take up sports,” assistant secretary (technical) of the State Sports Council Boby Aloysius said.

Another highlight of the decision is that the jobs are being offered in the Education Dept.

This move holds sense as the players, after their retirement, can train youngsters at school-level.

Sports Council secretary P S Abdul Razak said that jobs would be given to the players once they express their interest.

“Some of the players are employed in other departments.

So it is up to them to decide whether they want to join or not.

” Sports Minister Ganesh Kumar said the six persons, who participated in the Olympics this time, expressed their desire to work in Kerala.

The function to honour sportspersons, Tintu Luka, Mayookha Johny, V Diju, P R Sreejesh , K T Irfan and Renjith Maheswary along with shooting coach Prof Sunny Thomas and P T Usha, was attended by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Excise Minister K Babu, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and others.

The coaches and players were awarded a cash prize of `2 lakh each. Tintu Luka was given `10 lakh 

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