A summer sports camp for school students organised by VIT, Vellore, was inaugurated by Chancellor G. Viswanathan. He said that the free camp which was started in 2004 with 450 students has grown exponentially over the years, and 1,200 school students have registered for this year’s camp. Over 16,000 students have benefited through this camp since its inception, he said.
VIT’s Department of Physical Education conducts the summer sport’s training camp every year. This year’s camp started on April 22 and is scheduled to go on till May 13. The training begins from 6.30 a.m. to 8 a.m. at VIT campus daily. Experts in the fields of basketball, athletics, karate, football, hockey, volleyball, throwball, chess and yoga train the students in their respective sports. Students from classes VI to XII get trained in the camp free of cost. VIT has arranged buses to transport students from Katpadi and Chitoor bus stand to VIT campus, which the students can use for free.
Pointing out that a sound mind in a sound body is important, the VIT chancellor exhorted the youth to exercise daily as it is equally important as education. It not only helps the body but the mind too.
“We have to allot at least two hours daily to play and exercise to keep our body healthy,” he said.
Mr. Viswanathan raised his concern that India with a population of 136 crore was not able to get more medals in Olympics. “We use to worry why India with 136-crore population gets fewer medals in Olympics every four years. We all have to work to make India earn more accolades in Olympics.” The Chancellor cited the example of how China selected youngsters and trained them in sports to get more medals in Olympics.
Pro-Vice Chancellor S. Narayanan in his felicitation address said that sports inculcates team skills, problem solving skills and winning skills, and all those skills which people need in today’s world.
Registrar K. Sathiyanarayanan said that health is more important than education and everybody should concentrate more to be keep their body and mind healthy.
