Decentralisation in sports sector to be introduced: Minister

Kannur, Kerala, Aug 31 (UNI) Kerala Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today said to encourage talented sportspersons in local areas, decentralisation in sports sector would be introduced in the state.

Laying the foundation stone for a cricket stadium of international standard at Thalassery in the district, he said Sports Council Units would be set up in local self government institutions for the purpose.

Balakrishnan said the Government would formulate a new sports policy in the state to provide more attention at schools, colleges and local levels.

The Government's aim was to implement sports development in the state with people's participation and necessary changes would be made in the existing policy, he added.

As the Central Government's policy stipulating every state to make necessary investment for their sports development would affect Kerala, the Government would urge the Centre to change the policy, he added.

Stating that more tourists would arrive if the state had stadia of international standard, he said the Government would seriously consider whether tourism projects could be utilised for sports development.

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