Take it and you can’t leave it, this is your sport ‘kid’

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Fresh amendments to the Sport Law are set to bring in sweeping new reforms, among which will be a rule which makes it mandatory for all schoolchildren to participate in a sport, which will be determined by a medical report. Is this policy sensible? We put it to the public to decide.

Sport is an amalgamation of both mind and body, if the body tries to do something the mind is not in tune with then there is a problem. A child must always select whatever sport he wants. - Bathiya Wickremasinghe ( Private sector employee)	I think making schoolchildren participate in sports is a good thing and will keep them healthy but you cannot select the sport they have to participate in, especially by means of a medical report. They should pick one on their own so that they will then have a passion for it. - Harsha de Silva (Coach of the women’s national cricket team)	They can do it as long as it doesn’t affect their studies. The medical report is good to help their future. They should chose two paths, with this the child will be given an option to chose either sport or education, and he or she can fall back on any option at the end of their schooling years. Keeping a balance is important. - Ibrahim Mohamed (Parent)
Studies are not the most important thing, sport is also crucial. Students do not know what they are capable of so it’s good to do the medical test to find out their capability - Kavinda Chandrasena (Student)	It sounds like a good plan but whether it is practical is doubtful. Until a child is ten you can’t see all the problems that he or she has. Until that time they are going through their formative years so you can’t say that a medical test is conclusive. You can only encourage, not coerce. - Lekha Udugama (Teacher)	A student has to have a love for the game. There are lots of kids who develop later in their lives. I don’t think it’s fair for someone else to make a call with regards to their future. - Mahendra Gomis (Businessman)
Depends on the medical report; if he or she is fit then they can do any sport. The right of choice should be given to all students. The medical test should only be used to decide if the student is fit or not to do a sport and not to determine the sport. In my opinion, it’s wrong to force a child to do a sport if he or she is not willing. - Nisansala Dinushika (Student)	A student may be tall and big made and then sent off for weightlifting but you don’t know if his bone structure is weak and he can take it on. So I think the medical report is a good idea to properly identify students’ strengths and weaknesses. - Ranjith Fernando (Parent)	What if the student is against it? What if he or she doesn’t like it? It ultimately boils down to the child’s choice – but I think that sport is imperative. Sometimes though , doing sport without a target has no point. The decision is good but the problem arises when they try to enforce a sport on a student. Right of choice should remain. - Udana Wettasinghe (Student)
I think this is a good policy because it helps students find a sport which they can excel in and which they would therefore enjoy. Making it compulsory for students to take part in sports also ensures that they remain healthy throughout their schooling. Christina Cabraal (Student)		Sport depends on form and this may vary from time to time. Everyone has their uniqueness and they should know what they are good at. Upali Fonseka (Private sector employee)