Mangalore: District-level Athletic Meet Kicks off Amid Fanfare
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Oct 11: The two-day district-level primary and high school-level sports meet jointly organized by the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, public education department and the Urwa Parish Educational Society was inaugurated at NITK grounds, Suratkal near on Wednesday Ocober 10.
The programme began with a parade by sportspersons from different places and school bands of various schools of the city.
After the prayer and the state anthem, Fr Victor D’Mello, Urwa parish priest, welcomed the guests, dignitaries and the gathering. The lamp was lit by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore in the presence of mayor Gulzar Banu, Dr Mohan Alva, chairman of Alva's Education Trust and Grace Pinto, managing director, Ryan International Group of Institutions. Balloons were then released into the air.
Speaking after the inauguration, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza said that he was ‘jealous’ to see the arrangements made by the organizers as there were no such programmes during his own school days. “These sort of programmes are a good opportunity for the students to display their hidden talents,” he added.
Recalling the quote ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, he urged the students not be like Jack, but give wings to the competitive spirit within them and achieve great heights.
“All won’t win prizes, but keep trust in god and participate. Student life is unique. Studies, games and sports are a part of it. Every student is special in a different way, be it studies or sports. It is up to the individual to choose which field to move on in, especially while getting admission to school. These points matter a lot, as to what sort of school they need to choose,” he added.
Flag hoisting ceremony followed, during which three flags were hoisted. The main sports flag was hoisted by Grace Pinto. The city flag was hoisted by Rithesh Shetty and the Urwa parish flag was hoisted by Fr Wilson D’Souza, secretary, Catholic Education Board.
The torch was received and the light stand was lit with special string works by Gulzar Banu, mayor, Mangalore city. The oath taking ceremony by the sportspersons also took place on the occasion.
In her address, Grace Pinto recalled her school days and said that those days, on the sports meet, she used to sit and dream of being in the list of dignitaries, waiting for her chance to be on the dais along with guests and ministers, but today she has reached that position of honour. "I thank Jesus for helping me achieve so much," she said.
She expressed her happiness on see another lady, mayor Gulzar Banu, seated on the front row of dignitaries and supporting the children. She rendered her best wishes to the children in both their academic and sports activities.
Dr Mohan Alva, Ishwar Kateel, Ashwin Kumar, Praveen Shetty, Melvyn Cutinho, Francis D’Souza, Shivaram, Raghuram, K B Keshava, Moses Jayashekar were present among the others on the dais.
Sportsmen and students from Puttur, Beltangady, Sullia, Moodbidri, Batwal, Mangalore rural and Mangalore city were present.
Parents, teachers, members of the Urwa parish and well-wishers were present in large numbers to cheer the students.