Kerala School Sports Meet

Last updated
Kerala School Sports Meet
StatusActive
GenreSports Event
FrequencyAnnually
Venue Kerala
Country India
Founded
  • 1956 as Kerala State School Athletics & Games
  • 2024 as Kerala School Sports Meet
Founder R. Sankar
Most recent 2024
Participants20000
AreaKinder Garden to Higher Secondary Classes
Organised by Government of Kerala
People V. Sivankutty
SponsorIT@school

The Kerala School Sports Meet, previously known as Kerala State School Athletics and Games were inaugurated in 1956 by R. Sankar, the then Chief Minister of Kerala. This initiative was established to promote athletics and physical education among school students across the state. [1] [2]

Contents

Each year, over 40 sporting events are held, culminating in the announcement of state champions for each event, along with district and school champions. Participants are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, celebrating their achievements and fostering a spirit of competition and excellence. [3]

Background

The Kerala State School Athletic Games is an event launched by the Kerala Government to promote sports and physical education among school students. Its goal is to build a strong sports culture by encouraging student participation in various athletic events, helping to identify and nurture young talent. The program organizes competitions by age group, offering a wide range of events, from athletics to team sports. Schools compete at district, sub-district and state levels. In collaboration with the Kerala State Sports Council and the Department of General Education, the initiative not only promotes physical fitness but also emphasizes teamwork and discipline, supporting the overall development of students. [4]

Olympics-model

The Kerala Education Department launched the inaugural "School Olympics" in 2024, an event that aims to revolutionize school sports in the state. Scheduled to take place in Kochi from November 4 to 11, this historic sports meet will feature students from across Kerala competing in 39 diverse sports, including athletics, team sports, and inclusive sports designed for differently-abled athletes. This initiative marks a first of its kind in India, emphasizing the importance of sports in the educational landscape. The winning district will be awarded a 3-kilogram gold trophy, named in honour of the Chief Minister, although logistical challenges may delay its presentation until next year. The opening ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi) promises to be a vibrant celebration, incorporating cultural performances inspired by the Olympic spirit. Competitions will be held at 19 different venues throughout Kochi, with the inclusion of students from Kerala schools in the Gulf states for the first time. This revamped event signifies a significant evolution from the traditional focus on athletics in school sports meets, as the Public Education Department has meticulously planned a torch relay featuring international athletes, a grand march-past, a theme song, and a sports-cultural festival. The new School Olympics aims to become a landmark event in Kerala's education system, promoting the integration of sports with academics and the arts, thereby fostering a holistic approach to student development. [5] [6]

Students from the Gulf region will also participate in the Kerala State School Olympics in Kochi. The Director of Public Education issued a circular inviting non-resident students to take part in the event. This marks the first time that students from Gulf countries have been invited to a state government-sponsored sports event. The team from the United Arab Emirates will compete as the 15th district in the games, adding international dimension to the competition. [7]

However, on 22 October 2024, the Education Department decided to remove the term 'Olympics' from the title of the school sports festival. This decision stems from regulations that prohibit the use of the word 'Olympics' without authorization from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Initially, the government had named the event a major sports festival, but upon realizing that 'Olympics' is a registered trademark protected under the Olympic Charter, they retracted the name. Thus, the event will now officially be called the "Kerala School Sports Meet". All future promotional materials and official documents related to the event will reflect this updated name. Moving forward, it will be referred to as the "Kerala School Kayika Mela in Olympic Model Kochi-24", aligning with the revised branding while maintaining the essence of a large-scale sports festival. [8] [9]

Format

The 2024 Kerala School Sports Meet was modeled after the Olympic Games, including opening and closing ceremonies similar to those of the Olympics. Athletes who secured top positions received medals modeled after the Olympic design, along with cash awards and certificates. [10]

The events are grouped into three main categories: Athletics, Aquatics, and Games. Participants, both boys and girls, competes in age divisions—Sub-Junior, Junior, and Senior. Points are awarded as follows: 5 points for gold, 3 points for silver, and 1 point for bronze. Trophies and medals are given to the top three athletes in each event, with additional recognition for overall champions in Athletics, Aquatics, and Games. The overall champion district is determined by adding up the points across all events and divisions.

Participating Districts / Regions

Selection of participants

The Education Department manages the selection process for the Kerala School Sports Meet, ensuring that rules and regulations are followed at every level, from sub-district to state. The system aims to identify top athletes across the state, allowing them to progress from sub-district to district, and eventually to the state level. [11]

Inclusivity

In 2024, the Kerala School Sports Meet featured 1,800 differently-abled students who participated in 21 events. These included 3 team games and 18 athletic competitions. This was the first time that differently-abled students competed in the inclusive category at the state school sports festival. The events in this category included athletics, football, handball, and badminton. [12] [13]

Age categories

Participants are divided into three main categories based on age: [14]

  1. Under-14 (Sub-junior): Players must be born after January 1, 2011.
  2. Under-17 (Junior): Players must be born after January 1, 2008.
  3. Under-19 (Senior): Players must be born after January 1, 2006.

In addition to these categories, competitions are also held at lower levels for Kiddies, LP Kiddies, and LP Mini categories, for younger students.

Participation process

Each revenue district is assigned a set number of participants for each sport to ensure fair competition. The number of athletes allowed per district is consistent for each event.

  • In athletics, the competition includes 25 track and field events. Each district can send up to three participants per event, except for the relay events, which allow more athletes.
  • In swimming, districts can send six participants for relays and three participants in individual events across 19 swimming events.
  • For shooting, three participants are allowed per district in each of the three events.
  • In archery, four participants can compete in each of the six events from each district.
  • Tug of war (a traditional sport) allows a team of nine players, although the competition itself is for an eight-member team. The total body weight of the eight-member boys' team must not exceed 560 kg, while the girls' team has a limit of 440 kg.

Sport events

As of 2024, the following sports events are held annually: [15]

Medal Table

The following medal table is based on performances in Aquatics and Athletics events, with data and medal tallies recorded from 2011 onward. No competitions were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. [16]

Athletic Events

District-wise Medal Tally

The following table displays the total number of medals earned by each district in athletic events.

RankDistrictGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Ernakulam 274242201717
2 Palakkad 272244205721
3 Kozhikode 121122119362
4 Thiruvananthapuram 738194248
5 Thrissur 635956178
6 Malappuram 629392247
7 Kottayam 456468177
8 Kannur 26253182
9 Alappuzha 23274595
10 Idukki 222756105
11 Kasargod 1911939
12 Kollam 13122045
13 Wayanad 10212354
14 Pathanamthitta 913729

District-Wise Annual Champions (Athletic)

YearNumber of EventsDistricts (Top 3)Number ofMedals awardedBest Performing SchoolNumber ofDate & Location
Points EarnedMedals EarnedGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgPoints EarnedMedals Earned
201194 Ernakulam 27885283225Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		15044December 4 – 7, Ernakulam
Palakkad 23261262411
Kozhikode 7623869
201294 Palakkad 27279282823St. George's Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		11133December 4 – 7, Thiruvananthapuram
Ernakulam 25782283024
Kozhikode 84261088
201395 Ernakulam 25179282427St. George's Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		10033November 23 – 26, Ernakulam
Palakkad 21867271426
Kozhikode 1103211129
201495 Ernakulam 28981332820St. George's Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		8329December 8 – 11, Thiruvananthapuram
Palakkad 19061152620
Kozhikode 15648161715
201595 Ernakulam 24171252818Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		9129December 5 – 8, Kozhikode
Palakkad 22568242321
Kozhikode 130341699
201695 Palakkad 25574282521Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		10735December 3 – 6, Malappuram
Ernakulam 24775243120
Kozhikode 101271287
201795 Ernakulam 25871341621Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		7521October 20 – 23, Kottayam
Palakkad 18560221424
Kozhikode 109348206
201896 Ernakulam 25376302620St. George's Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		8125October 26 – 29, Thiruvananthapuram
Palakkad 19653241613
Thiruvananthapuram 10131101110
201998 Palakkad 20160182616Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
Ernakulam 		6220November 15 – 18, Kannur
Ernakulam 15746211411
Kozhikode 1233914718
202298 Palakkad 20171322118Ideal E. H. S. S. Kadakassery
Palakkad 		6620December 3 – 6, Thiruvananthapuram
Malappuram 14944131714
Kozhikode 1224081616
202398 Palakkad 26667282712Ideal E. H. S. S. Kadakassery
Palakkad 		5723October 16 – 20, Thrissur
Malappuram 16855132220
Kozhikode 952910712
Kerala School Sports Meet
2024 39Thiruvananthapuram1935541227150164 G. V. Raja Sports School
Thiruvananthapuram		26868November 4 – 11, Kochi
Thrissur848244806599
Malappuram8242926490138

Aquatic Events

District-wise Medal Tally

The following table displays the total number of medals earned by each district in aquatic events. Due to the unavailability of data for the events held in 2012 and 2018, those years have been excluded from the following information.

RankDistrictGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Thiruvananthapuram 6616035021766
2 Ernakulam 138105122365
3 Thrissur 69108167344
4 Kottayam 455358156
5 Palakkad 8325898
6 Kasargod 281525
Kollam 2125
7 Kozhikode 012517
8 Kannur 06713
9 Alappuzha 0538
10 Malappuram 0101
11 Idukki 0000
Pathanamthitta 0000
Wayanad 0000

District-Wise Annual Champions (Aquatic)

YearNumber of EventsDistricts (Top 3)Number ofMedals awardedBest Performing SchoolNumber ofDate & Location
Points EarnedMedals EarnedGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgPoints EarnedMedals Earned
2011104 Thiruvananthapuram 666201686370Government V. H. S. S, Kalamassery
Ernakulam 		5713October 24 – 27, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Ernakulam 23244211310
Thrissur 1274013819
2013104 Thiruvananthapuram 657201666966Government V. H. S. S, Pirappancode
Thiruvananthapuram 		20258October 28 – 31, Swimming Pool Pirappancode
Ernakulam 2245426199
Thrissur 13443101320
2014104 Thiruvananthapuram 686199786061Government V. H. S. S, Pirappancode
Thiruvananthapuram 		22363October 28 – 31, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Ernakulam 15742141513
Thrissur 13144111419
2015104 Thiruvananthapuram 663196696958Government V. H. S. S, Pirappancode
Thiruvananthapuram 		16149October 28 – 31, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Thrissur 16857121728
Ernakulam 137311849
2016104 Thiruvananthapuram 683203717062Government V. H. S. S, Pirappancode
Thiruvananthapuram 		16149October 28 – 31, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Ernakulam 14235141110
Thrissur 13446101422
2017104 Thiruvananthapuram 698200766757Government V. H. S. S, Kalamassery
Ernakulam 		5513November 10 – 13, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Thrissur 1405062024
Ernakulam 111291379
2019104 Thiruvananthapuram 648169706930Rajagiri Higher Secondary School, Kalamassery
Ernakulam 		6721October 29 – November 1, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Ernakulam 16053161027
Kottayam 14739151212
2022104 Thiruvananthapuram 705198796554Govt. Girls H. S. S, Kanniakulangara
Thiruvananthapuram 		9632November 7 – 9, Aquatics Complex Thrissur
Ernakulam 13940131215
Thrissur 7521687
2023103 Thiruvananthapuram 721199846451Madhava Vilasom H. S. S, Thundathil
Thiruvananthapuram 		13230December 8 – 11, Dr.B R Ambedkar International Aquatic Complex, Pirappancode
Ernakulam 993731420
Kottayam 73237610

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References

  1. ↑ "In a first, Kerala State School Sports Meet to be held along the lines of Olympics". The Hindu. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  2. ↑ "Kerala's first School Olympics to be held in Ernakulam in October". The Hindu. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  3. ↑ "Palakkad district clinches victory in 65th Kerala State School Sports Meet with 266 points". The Times of India. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  4. ↑ "Kerala School Kalolsavam in Thiruvananthapuram from Dec 3 to 7". onmanorama.com. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  5. ↑ "Kerala's first-ever 'School Olympics' to dazzle with 3-kg gold trophy". thebridge.in. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  6. ↑ "Kerala introduces new school programmes, sports manual for differently-abled". indiatoday.in. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  7. ↑ "State School Olympics: UAE will be named the "15th District"". mediaoneonline.com (in Malayalam). 17 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  8. ↑ "Use of term 'Olympics' excluded from Kerala School Sports Meet". mathrubhumi.com. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  9. ↑ "'Olympics' Removed from Kerala School Sports Meet Title". twentyfournews.com (in Malayalam). 22 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  10. ↑ "Kerala's New Sporting Tradition: School Olympics to Debut in Kochi with 41 Events". skoobuzz.com. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  11. ↑ "Kerala School Games Transformed: 39 Sports and 10,000 Matches Mark a New Era in School Olympics". etvbharat.com (in Malayalam). 14 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  12. ↑ "Visually challenged participants at Inclusive Sports cry foul over 'guide runner'". thehindu.com. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  13. ↑ "Competitors of the inclusive category preparing for the March Past". keralakaumudi.com. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  14. ↑ Age Group for Sports & Games Championships2024-2025 (PDF). Kerala Government Department of Education. 2024. p. 1.
  15. ↑ "Kerala School Olympics to have inclusive sports: Minister". The Hindu. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  16. ↑ "Kerala School Sports & Games 2023 Official Website". kerala.gov.in.
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