Sports For School was a seminar organised by Accolade Edusports recently at Hotel Hindustan International in the presence of eminent school principals, school owners, trustee members, sports personalities and doctors. More than 50 schools and organisations attended the event. The primary focus of the event was to highlight the point that sports has become a necessity in a child’s regular discipline. Along with mainstream education and other co-curricular activities, sports plays a pivotal role in building qualities like discipline, determination and selfless team spirit for lifetime.
It has been observed globally that the social media revolution has adversely affected children. Screen has become such a single-stop entertainment for children that it is impacting their mental health, physical agility and mobility to the extent that they are losing concentration, getting irritated, unfriendly, hostile and unsympathetic most of the time. One of the remedies is physical sports and games that will help them to come out of this cycle. Sports can pave the way for the young minds to blossom and define a healthy future for the nation.
Artist and curator of the event, Prithviraj Choudhury, said, “Sports is a unique common thread that binds people together and has a huge role to play when it comes to nation building. We wanted to make it an interactive event that would resonate with the significance of sports in schools and also understand how Accolade Edusports has come up with in-school curriculum in sports and physical education for school children and work hand-in-hand with the schools.”
The founder and owner of Accolade Edusports, Fidaul Haque, talked about the role of his organisation. He said, “Accolade Edusports is dedicated to fostering grassroots sports excellence. Our ageappropriate curriculum, paired with a monitoring app, ensures students and coaches reach their full potential. Join us in championing the next generation of athletes and promoting a healthier society through sports education.”
Pawan Kumar Patodia, chairman and principal owner of Kolkata Thunderbolts, talked about his perspective towards the role of Accolade Edusports. He said, “Over the past two years, our grassroots volleyball initiatives in West Bengal have yielded phenomenal results. Some players now represent Bengal under-21, and two female players secured railway jobs. This highlights the dual benefits of sports — fitness and remuneration — with the added opportunity to honour your country. I’ve learned that Accolade Edusports has initiated a grassroots program, and I am eager to support their vision. They offer an excellent platform for pursuing your sports passion, possibly bringing home gold medals for our nation.
The chief guest of the evening was Avishek Dalmiya, member of IPL governing council and former president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. He said, “Promoting sports in schools is vital for holistic child development. Education is crucial, but we must also nurture other aspects. Sports, especially outdoor activities, play a pivotal role in keeping children physically and mentally fit. Accolade Edusports is contributing to grooming future athletes, fostering skills like communication and coordination that are essential for life.”
Rohini Chakraborty
Pictures: The organisers