“MISSION OLYMPICS 2028 – JOURNEY TO THE RINGS”

The “MISSION OLYMPICS 2028 – JOURNEY TO THE RINGS” program, implemented under the full supervision of the Department of Sports Development on the instructions of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, was held today (Sept. 25) at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

It is expected that the MISSION OLYMPICS 2028 – JOURNEY TO THE RINGS program will take athletes who have shown exceptional skills in competitions such as the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. and athletes who can hope for the Olympics in the future by identifying them and providing them with the necessary financial and other facilities to take them to the medals.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said that none of the money spent in this way is anyone’s private money, but all that wealth is public tax money, and that only public representatives are responsible for properly managing that money and returning it to the people. The Minister also emphasized that it is the responsibility of the players to do justice to the public tax money they receive as this allowance.

Responding to a problem that has arisen these days regarding foreign travel and obtaining visas, the Minister said that certain problems are outside the scope of the Ministry, and that it has been categorically stated that applications related to visas or foreign travel that reach the Ministry less than twenty-one days ago or the problems of the players will not be addressed. The Minister said that the disorderly processes existing in such sports associations that act to affect the sports lives of the players should be corrected.

The Minister further said that the proposal for this monthly allowance to be given to athletes and coaches was approved in the government budget as a cabinet paper.

This allowance will be provided in four categories, and in the first category, a player will receive Rs. 150,000 and a coach will receive Rs. 100,000, in the second category, a player will receive Rs. 100,000 and a coach will receive Rs. 65,000, in the third category, a player will receive Rs. 75,000 and a coach will receive Rs. 50,000, in the fourth category, a player will receive Rs. 50,000 and a coach will receive Rs. 30,000, and a monthly nutrition allowance of Rs. 60,000 will be provided for the players of the national squad along with the monthly allowance.

The Minister further stated that in order to develop sports in this country, a professional athlete must be created. According to the current government’s idea, it is expected that a sportsman who achieves international achievements can be created through this program that has been implemented.

Participating in this event, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne said that this monthly allowance provided is public tax money and the athletes should be responsible for all that money and should engage in their sports activities with dedication. The Deputy Minister said that he believes that all the athletes will engage in their sports activities with dedication.

The Deputy Minister further stated that the squad, which has been created in four categories, will be updated after six months and that a progress review will be conducted, and that it is hoped to include athletes with hidden talents through dialogue with the coaches, and that talented athletes will be able to continue to remain in the squad.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized that all athletes should undergo doping tests, and that while the sport is very clean, winning based on talent brings fame to a country, if it is confirmed that doping was used in an international competition, it will add a black mark to a country.

The Deputy Minister of Sports said that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will continue to be committed to developing the sport in this country by acquiring foreign knowledge and bringing in technical equipment for all sports.

Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara, Chairman of the National Selection Committee Sriyani Kulavansa, Chairman of the National Sports Council Priyantha Ekanayake, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee Suresh Subramaniam, Director (Sports) of the Department of Sports Development I.P. Wijeratne, athletes and coaches also participated in this event.