ADDRESS AS CHIEF GUEST AT THE FLAGGING OFF CEREMONY OF THE TIRANGA YATRA RUN AT SAINIK SCHOOL, KAZHAKUTTOM
0900 HRS ON 23 AUGUST 2016
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Shri Kadakampalli Surendran, Hon’ble Minister for Power,
Advocate V.K. Prasanth, Hon’ble Mayor,
Dr. G. Kishore, Principal, Lakshmibai National College  
                                                       of Physical Education,  
Col. A. Rajiv, Principal, Sainik School,
Shri G. Isaac, Deputy Director, Lakshmibai National College  
                                                       of Physical Education,  

Dear Sportspersons, Beloved students,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram,

    I am happy to be here amidst you to flag off the “Tiranga Yatra Run”, organized as a nationwide event by Sports Authority of India.
        It is a matter of pride that this event is being conducted at the time when our beloved nation is celebrating 70 years of freedom and when two of our sportspersons have won Olympic medals. Both the events are reasons enough for our national flag to fly high.

    Let me, at the outset, congratulate the organizers for  conducting this programme by involving as many sportspersons as possible. I also extend my warm wishes to the staff and students of the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Thiruvananthapuram, which is celebrating its 31st foundation day today. This institution, managed by the Sports Authority of India, has been serving as a centre of excellence in research in Physical Education and producing highly competent and skilled athletes and players.
    I have been informed that this Tiranga Yatra Run is organized as per the decision of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. We all know that sports as an activity points towards teamwork and harmony. For the dedicated sportspersons, the world is their arena and that in every game they participate, they represent millions of their countrymen wherever they go.

     However, if our sportspersons should grow to global levels, they should get the best training and facilities. The nation is in the process of developing such facilities in different regions. For instance, the conduct of the 12th   South Asian Games in February this year has given  the North Eastern region an exposure to world class sports facilities. Kerala too, had gained a lot from the conduct of the National Games, which had set a benchmark for conduct of future sporting events.

    In addition, sportspersons deserve better support, respect and recognition from society. Our practice is to laud them when they bag medals and ignore them in other times. Society should see upcoming sportspersons as national assets and instill in them a better sense of security that would encourage them to perform better. 
    I may add that the choice of Sainik School as the starting point of the Tiranga Yatra Run is ideal, since this institution has always kept our pride high by contributing hundreds of officers to the defence forces.

    I greet all the athletes, sportspersons, students and members of the general public who are participating in the Yatra.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind