Sports to be in school curriculum

BHUBANESWAR: The state government is planning to include sports in school curriculum like it is in CBSE schools from the next academic session. A mapping of disciplines was recently started to tap the sporting potential at different places across the state.
"The CBSE has adopted school sports programme in line with Australia School Programme. The Centre has asked us to do so," said director of sports and youth affairs D V Swamy.This plan will be implemented in all government schools, including those under the SC and ST development department and Ekalavya schools, he said. "Though lots of efforts are being made under the Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan scheme in schools, we are trying to focus on development of sports from the school level," Swamy added.
Sources said the government is mapping disciplines in all 30 districts of Odisha so that focus is on the particular discipline in the same district. "For example, Sundergarh is the hub of Hockey so children can be trained in the dribbling sport. Similarly in Ganjam, children can be trained in weightlifting," said an officer in the sports department.