Mizoram flags off 'Game On! Youth Sports'

Aizawl, Feb 19 (UNI) School students and officials gathered at the AR Ground here today to witness the launch of the International Alliance for Youth Sports (IAYS)'s flagship programme of Game On! Youth Sports in Mizoram.

The event followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Mizoram government's education department and the Florida-based IAYS here yesterday.

The MoU aims at preparing young children to reach higher levels in various sports disciplines, to reduce repetition and dropouts among school children, Education Minister Lalthangliana said today.

Kickstarting the Game On!, IAYS president and CEO Fred Engh said, ''We are beginning a truly special journey today that will make a difference in the lives of thousands of children throughout this country. I have seen the impact Game On! has had at firsthand, I can not wait to see it change young lives here too. I can not wait to see the smiles on children's face, and the excitement in their eyes.

Mizoram is the first Indian state to join many countries and regions in the IAYS' Game On! Youth Sports.

The Game On! Youth Sports will be carried out under pilot project for the 10 schools/sports academies. Training for coaches/instructors under SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) sports academies will be conducted by IAYS and will as well seek support from donors or funding partners for Game On! Youth Sports programme in Mizoram whereas supervision, monitoring and evaluation cell will be set up at block, district and state level of SSA Mission, officials said.

Upon success of the Game On! in the 10 piloted schools, the Mizoram government will agree on purchasing a minimum number of the Game On! individual school package programmes to be distributed throughout Mizoram schools and sports academies, the minimum number of which will be agreed upon by IAYS and the government of Mizoram,'' they said.

UNI ZS LL RKM AS1709