"Sports best medicine," US NGO

Guwahati, May 13 (UNI) Few days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singhsuggested introduction of sports in the school curriculum, here is another reason to cheer about, as far as promoting sporting spirit at the grass-roots level is concerned.

The International Alliance for Youth Sports (IAYS), a US-based voluntary organization, has come forward to promote sports among the children and enable them lead a healthy lifestyle free of crime, violence, drug abuse and any other anti social activities.

The organization, which is launching its 'Games On! Youth Sports' project soon in Asom, will strive to equip children and youth in the school and community structures by offering positive sports skills including sporting equipment, infrastructure as well as training in both rural and urban areas so that they grow up to be positive sportspersons.

IAYS Asia/Pacific head Chiranjeeb Das said, ''This is our first project in India and we are launching this all-India project from Asom. Our programme deal with sports and games at the initial stage and help grow sporting spirit among the children.'' IAYS president Fred Engh will soon meet Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to garner government support for the project.

He said the project is aimed at inducing sporting environment in schools and community where sports was not known before or children and youth never had a sporting experience due to lack of sports infrastructure, equipments , physical trainers as well as instructors.

''Though Asom has build top class sports infrastructure for the last national games, children at both school and community level are yet to get support for development of sports. We will try to assist schools and communities to develop infrastructure, train up coaches and players,'' Das said.

Mentioning that sports will help build positive lifestyle among the Northeast children affected by insurgency, poverty and lack of development, Das said, ''Our Games On! Youth Sports programme is aimed at detracting children and youth by offering positive sports environment and enable them stay away from drugs, alcohol, crime and not to do anything that attract HIV / AIDS and promiscuity. It also strives to offer programs so that the obesity problem that children and youth are facing today is get rid of and they stay healthy and maintain healthy lifestyles.'' He also informed that the organization was interested to support private schools, agencies and government for the promotion of sports.

UNI