NOC’s first step in going for the ‘gold’
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In a timely move to take athletics to the next plain, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) signed a memorandum to harness and enhance training and development in rural talent.
The signing took place at the Olympic House on 5th December 2018.
It was an inner thought that the NOC Chief Suresh Subramanium had conceived during this travelling that involves tennis and athletics – ascertaining on how athletics machine chugged in their bid to perfection.
The NOC chief Suresh Subramaniam said “Sports is the only thing that does not have any barriers such as cast, creed or race. NOC is very happy to join hands with legends like Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara who had brought Sri Lanka great pride and honour.
“The hard work done by Kushil and Ashan made me believe that, by joining hands with FOG, we can pursue the goal that the NOC had after the new committee took over this year to produce Olympic medalists in the future.
“Therefore, both NOC and FoG will work together on this mission for the betterment of Sri Lankan sports.”
FoG, through their ‘Unconditional Compassion’ with a holistic approach to bridging the gap between the urban and rural sectors in Sri Lanka is empowering over 35000 lives in more than 200 villages free of cost. The FoG’s sports academy in Seenigama was developed post-tsunami with the involvement of our cricketing legends in the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara along with Ashan Malalasekera, Rohan Irriyagolla, Pratheepan Karunagaran who are the trustees for the founder Kushil Gunasekera.
Founder and the Chief Trustee of FoG, Kushil Gunasekera exsplained “I’m really pleased and delighted that we were able to enter in to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Olympic Committee which is a landmark achievement.
“This will give us lot of encouragement, confidence and belief that we can do better, hopefully that it will take sports to another level in the years to come with the backing of the NOC.
Meanwhile, cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara observed “We are very grateful to Suresh Subramaniam, Maxwell De Silva, Asanga Seneviratne and the rest of the National Olympic Committee for having faith that the Foundation of Goodness can deliver on the ideas that were founded upon, bridging the gap between urban and rural youth of Sri Lanka and to ensure that the rural youth of all parts of Sri Lanka are given the best facilities and best opportunities to further their talents to become productive members of Sri Lankan society.”
Sangakkara also believes that this partnership will help to bring one or two Olympic medals in the future. Both Mahela Jayawardena and Muttiah Muralitharan also stressed on the rural talent, who firstly, lack education and then uplifting them through sports, providing the necessary knowledge, coaching and technology. Obviously cricket has been, international standard and they believe it is time for the Olympic sports to step up. Hopefully, our country would blossom with a few medals in the future.