| Kerala School Sports Meet 2024 | |
| Host City: | Kochi |
| Athletes: | 24,000 |
| Events: | 39 |
| Opened By: | V. Sivankutty Minister for General Education |
| Closed By: | Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister of Kerala |
| Torch Lighter: | P. R. Sreejesh |
| Stadium: | Maharaja's College Stadium |
| Website: | Official Website |
The Kerala School Sports Meet 2024 (Malayalam: കേരള സ്കൂൾ കായികമേള 2024), marked the first edition of the revamped Kerala State School Athletics and Games, which were held annually until 2023.[1]
The event was held in Kochi from November 4 to 11. It officially began on November 4 with Olympian P. R. Sreejesh lighting the ceremonial lamp, accompanied by Thakkudu, the event's mascot. Actor Mammootty attended as the chief guest at the opening ceremony.[2] [3] [4] [5]
At the conclusion of the event on 11 November 2024, Thiruvananthapuram district claimed the title of overall district champion at the sports meet, with Thrissur and Malappuram districts securing second and third place, respectively. The closing ceremony took place at Maharaja's College Stadium, where Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the trophy.[6] [7]
The Kerala School Sports Meet was a multi-sport event organized by the Kerala Public Education Department. It is a restructured version of the traditional state school sports festival, modelled after the Olympic format and will be held every four years. The first edition is scheduled for November 4 to 11, 2024, in Kochi, with 19 venues hosting 10,000 matches across 39 sports disciplines.[8]
Out of the 4.5 million students enrolled in schools under the Public Education Department, 24,000 athletes participated in the Kerala School Sports Meet. The event focused on promoting physical education and sports at the grassroots level. The competition included both day and night matches, with events held at 17 venues across the city.[9]
Students from the Gulf region participated in the Kerala School Sports Meet in Kochi. The Director of Public Education issued a circular inviting non-resident students to take part in the event. This was 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 competes as the 15th district in the games.[10] Only boys participated in the event from the United Arab Emirates this year. Starting next edition, girls will also be included. Six out of the eight schools in the UAE that follow the Kerala syllabus participated in the 2024 meet. From next year, non-resident students will be eligible to participate in all categories. In 2024, non-resident students competed in events such as running, jumping, shot put, football, volleyball, basketball, and badminton. The students' travel expenses were covered by their respective schools, while the state government covered accommodation, meals, and local training costs.[11] [12]
On October 29, Olympic medallist and hockey player P. R. Sreejesh was named the ambassador for the Kerala School Sports Meet. Education Minister V. Sivankutty made the announcement, also stating that the opening ceremony is scheduled for November 4 at Maharaja's College Ground. The venue was changed from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor due to technical issues.[13]
After tallying the total points earned across athletics, aquatics, and games categories by all 14 participating districts, Thiruvananthapuram district emerged as the overall champion of the 2024 edition, securing 1,935 points. Thrissur district claimed the first runner-up position with 848 points, while Malappuram district finished as the second runner-up with 824 points.[14]
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By the conclusion of the event on November 11, 2024, Malappuram district claimed the championship title in the athletics category, while Thiruvananthapuram district emerged as the overall champion in both the aquatics and games categories.[15] [16]
| Athletics | Aquatics | Games | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The inclusive sports event for children with special needs concluded on November 5, featuring participation from over 1,600 students representing all 14 districts. The following events were held under this category: 100-meter race for the visually impaired, mixed 4 × 100 metres relay, standing broad jump, standing throw, handball, and mixed badminton.
By the end of the event, Thiruvananthapuram emerged as the overall champions, with Palakkad securing second place and Kozhikode taking third.[17]
| Overall Champions | Athletics | Games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arrangements were made to ensure the security and smooth operation of the sports event. Special transport provisions were organized, and 40 squads led by Kerala Excise and Kerala Police officials were deployed to address potential issues. A central control room coordinated between departments, and health services were available at all venues. Agencies such as KSEB and the Kerala Water Authority provided support, and accommodation and sanitation facilities were arranged for participants.[18]
The sports events for the Kerala School Sports Meet 2024 were held across various locations in Ernakulam district and its surrounding areas of Fort Kochi, Kadavanthra, Kalamassery, Kothamangalam, and Thoppumpady.[19]
Below is a list of venues along with the events hosted at each location.
| Venue | Events | |
|---|---|---|
| Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium | Taekwondo, Tennis, Table tennis, Badminton, Karate, Kabaddi, Judo | |
| Cochin University of Science and Technology | Powerlifting, Weightlifting | |
| Maharaja's College Stadium Kochi | Athletics, Cross country running | |
| St. Peter's College & St. Peter's Vocational and Higher Secondary School Kolenchery | Ball badminton, Volleyball, Wushu | |
| MA College Kothamangalam | Water polo | |
| Government Higher Secondary School, Panampilly Nagar | Football | |
| Parade Ground, Fort Kochi | Softball, Tug of War | |
| Veli Ground, Fort Kochi | Baseball, Throw ball | |
| Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thevara | Basketball, Handball | |
| Ernakulam Town Hall | Fencing | |
| Palace Oval, Tripunithura | Cricket | |
| St. Paul's College Ground, Kalamassery | ||
| Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Higher Secondary School Puthencruz | Handball | |
| Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Tripunithura | Netball | |
| Government Higher Secondary School Kadayiruppu | Boxing | |
| Container Terminal Road, Vallarpadam | Cycling | |
| Rajiv Gandhi Stadium Thoppumpady | Kho-Kho, Tennikoit |
The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) introduced technological solutions for the state school sports meet, including a dedicated portal and live broadcasts. A helicam captured cycling events on Container Road, providing real-time updates. Commentators from the Athletics Federation of India, such as Sreekumaran Nair, Griselda Xavier, Abhilash, Simi Maryam, and Mahesh, provided coverage for the Kite Victers channel.[20] [21] [22]
On 4 November 2024, promotional processions for the sports event departed from Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram, arriving in Kochi at 3:00 PM (IST). the meet commenced at 4:00 PM with hockey star P. R. Sreejesh, the games' brand ambassador, and Education Minister V. Sivankutty lighting the ceremonial lamp. Actor Mammootty officially inaugurated the cultural programs. The opening ceremony featured a march past by 3,500 students and a cultural performance by 4,000 students from 32 schools in the surrounding areas.[23]
Following the inauguration, there was a band march and a student parade. A procession representing Kochi, including participants styled as the 'queen and flower girls,' followed. Naval NCC cadets demonstrated the 24 Kochi formation, and 1,000 students participated in a mass drill, with another 1,000 taking part in a Zumba performance.[24]
In addition, 1,000 students participated in freehand exercises, while the Queen of Arabian Sea (artistic dance crew) delivered a cultural performance. The ceremony also included an art show showcasing two distinct themes: the Cochin Carnival and Athachamayam (a customary celebration associated with the Onam festival).
The Ernakulam Press Club established a media committee, consisting of its president, secretary, and treasurer, for the media coverage of the event. The committee held a meeting with various media representatives, during which Publicity Committee Chairman T. J. Vinod MLA provided details about the media room that would be operational at the main venue, Maharaja's College.[25]
The Kerala School Sports Meet will follow the structure and grandeur of the Olympic Games, complete with Olympic-style opening and closing ceremonies. The winning athletes will be awarded Olympic model medals, along with cash prizes and certificate.[26]
The sports events are divided into three categories: Athletics, Aquatics, and Games. Participants, both boys and girls, are further categorized based on their age level into 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 presented to the top three winners in each event. In addition, special recognition is given to the overall champions in Athletics, Aquatics, and Games. The overall winning district is determined by combining the total points earned across all categories and participant divisions.
The Kerala School Olympics will feature a broad range of sports that mirror those included in the Summer Olympics, in addition to traditional athletics track and field events. This reorganization aims to broaden the scope of school sports, fostering all-around athletic development among students.[27]
Competitions will be held in 39 sports, including popular Olympic sports such as:
The logo and mascot for the State School Sports Festival – Kochi'24 was unveiled, with "Thakkudu," a lively "Annarakannan" (squirrel), serving as the official mascot. The logo was designed by Rishi Kallada, while Vinoj Surendran created the mascot. The launch was officiated by Ministers P. Rajeeve and V. Sivankutty.[28] [29]
Kerala Education Department introduced The Kerala State School Olympics Gold Cup, the winning award to honour the overall champions of the annual Kerala State School Olympics. It is modelled after the gold cup previously awarded to the winning district in the Kerala State School Arts Festival.[30]
The gold cup weighs 3 kilograms and is named after the Chief Minister of Kerala. It is intended to be awarded as an Ever Rolling Trophy to the district that achieves the highest points in the multi-sport event. However, due to time constraints, the gold cup will not be presented at the inaugural edition of the Kerala State School Olympics in 2024. Education department officials have indicated that while the trophy has not been prepared in time for this year's event, it will be introduced in future editions.[31] [32]
The selection of participants for the Kerala School Sports Meet is overseen by the Education Department to ensure that proper rules and regulations are followed from the sub-district to the state level. The system is designed to identify and enrol top-performing athletes from across the state, enabling a smooth transition for competitors from sub-district to revenue district, and finally to the state level.[33]
The Kerala School Sports Meet 2024 is inclusive, with 1,800 differently-abled students participating in 21 events, including 3 team games and 18 athletic competitions. For the first time, differently-abled students are competing in the inclusive category of the state school sports festival. Events in this category include athletics, football, handball, and badminton. The participants are based at St. Mary's School, Thevara, for the duration of the event.[34] [35]
Participants are divided into three main categories based on age:[36]
In addition to these categories, competitions are also held at lower levels for Kiddies, LP Kiddies, and LP Mini categories, for younger students.
The Kerala School Sports Meet will have competitors from 163 sub-districts across Kerala. Each revenue district is allocated a specific number of participants in various sports to maintain competitive balance. The number of athletes allowed per district is standardized for each event:
On November 11, 2024, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the closing ceremony of the sports meet at the main venue, Ernakulam Maharaja's College ground. Education Minister V. Sivankutty presided over the event, with Indian footballer I.M. Vijayan and actor Vinayakan serving as the chief guests. During the ceremony, Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman, along with Ministers P. A. Mohammed Riyas, Kadannappalli Ramachandran, G. R. Anil, and J. Chinchu Rani, distributed the prizes. The district securing the top spot was awarded the Chief Minister’s Ever-rolling Trophy. Trophies were also presented to the top three winners in the under-14, under-17, and under-19 categories, as well as for outstanding performances in athletics and aquatic competitions at the school and district levels.[37]
Due to logistical challenges and technical difficulties at the Kochi venue, the scheduled competitions for the inaugural Kerala School Sports Meet 2024 is expected to face adjustments. Despite completing the sub-district, education district, and revenue district-level competitions in athletics and swimming by the October 10 deadline, the constraints in Kochi prevents several sports events from being held simultaneously as planned.[38] [39]
As a result, some events were relocated to alternative venues. Notably, the hockey matches, originally set to take place in Kochi starting from November 4, were shifted to Kollam for technical reasons. Competitions for Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 boys and girls will now be held in Kollam from October 20 to 24.
A protest erupted during the closing ceremony, led by students, teachers, and parents from Malappuram's Tirunavaya Navamukunda HSS and Kothamangalam's Mar Basil HSS. The protest centered around the inclusion of sports schools in the overall school rankings, sparking controversy over the final results. The dispute arose when GV Raja Sports School from Aruvikkara was awarded second place, despite allegedly not being listed in the initial rankings. Tensions escalated, leading to a scuffle between students and the police.[40] [41] [42]
Navamukunda HSS and Mar Basil HSS expressed their dissatisfaction with the final points tally, in which Navamukunda ranked second with 44 points, and Mar Basil came third with 43 points, while GV Raja Sports School was controversially awarded second place.[43] [44]