By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor P Sathasivam flagged off the International Olympic Day Run at Kowdiar Square on Saturday. The event was organised by the Trivandrum District Olympic Association in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Kerala Sports Council, Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education and other organisations.
“I greet all the participants of this Olympic Run and wish them fitness, good health and a positive outlook towards sports. Let this be our response to the fitness challenge that our Prime minister had recently placed before us,” Sathasivam said.
“We have been celebrating International Olympic Day on June 23 since 1948 to promote people’s participation in sports regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. The Olympic Day commemorates the birth of modern Olympics which promotes fitness and the Olympic ideals of Fair Play, Respect and Sportsmanship all over the world. “Today, we are fortunate to have Olympians, Arjuna Awardees, noted sportspersons and celebrities running along with us in this programme,” he said.
The Governor distributed various awards like Olympian award, media awards, and sports awards at the function. The Olympian award instituted in memory of Olympian Suresh Babu was presented to athlete M D Valsamma. The award carries a purse of Rs 25,000 and a sculpture. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran presided over the function. A rally, taken out as part of the event, concluded at the Central Stadium here.
