Keeping sports arena free from environmental pollution
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Siddique
The National Olympic Committee of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) organised a national seminar on sports and environment at the fag end of last year on the eve of the biggest ever XI edition of South Asian Games opened in Dhaka on January 29, 2010. Notably, this was the first formal event that took place in the newly built Olympic House at Rajuk Avenue, Dhaka. The IOC and Dutch Bangla Bank of Bangladesh patronised the event.
A day before the seminar, in presence of the President, the Secretary General, other office bearers of BOA executive committee and invited guests, an auspicious house-entering ceremony was held following recitation of the holy Quran followed by prayer. Just before opening of the seminar, the inaugural plaque of the auditorium was opened by the Chairman of Dutch-Bangla Bank Mr. Shahabuddin Ahmed. Delegates from 27 national federations (NFs), 31 recognised associations and five Divisional Sports Associations namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet participated in the seminar. With the exception of Bangladesh Women Sports Association affiliated to BOA, all other NFs and associations including the divisional sports associations were represented by two delegates each.
The nomination of delegates was characterised by two distinctive features. One, BOA or its sports and environment committee gave due attention to the IOC fundamental principles of women participation in sports and women empowerment in as much as the Bangladesh Women Sports Association was allowed 10 delegates. Secondly, Federations/Associations involved in organising sports for physically challenged and otherwise disabled persons were invited to send delegates.
Accordingly, National Games for Disabled Association and Bangladesh Deaf Sports Federation were duly represented. Therefore, in seeking nomination of delegates due respect was shown to the provision of Rules 4 and 7 of the Olympic Charter. Among the participating NFs, sixteen are associated with disciplines included in the Games of Olympiad. These was archery, athletics, badminton, handball, hockey, taekwondo, tennis, shooting, swimming volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
National associations concerned with disciplines not included in the said games but recognised by the IOC were chess, karate, rugby and ushu. Ushu, of course, holds provisional recognition of the IOC. The rest of the participants in kabadi and khokho practice regional games recognised by the respective continental and regional sports organisations i.e. the OCA and South Asia Olympic Council. Another NF named Body Building Federation also attended. Bangladesh Cricket Board sent a delegate. It is worthwhile to mention that at present cricket is at the peak of popularity in Bangladesh.
Around one hundred delegates attended the seminar, among them 14 were females. The theme was 'Importance of Environment in Sports'. The keynote paper on the theme was presented by the member-secretary of BOA Sports and Environment Committee. The President of the Committee and a Vice-President of BOA Mr. Serajul Islam Bachchu presided over the sessions. In his speech, the chief guest Md. Yeasin All, Managing, Director of Dutch Bangla Bank made his observations on the key note paper with reference to the just concluded World Climate Conference, Copenhagen.
He highlighted tile socio-economic impact of climate change in Bangladesh and dwelt upon the dangerous consequences that she might face in near future due to this calamity. While making his observations on the theme, the Secretary General of BOA, Mr. Kutubuddin Ahmed, who is also one of the members of the Sports and Environment Committee of Olympic Council of Asia, focused on the environmental problems of number one Bangabandhu National Stadium and adjacent sports infrastructures and also of the surrounding area. He discussed these problems with reference to the SA Games.
He stated that athletes of some of the events of these Games including our national game-kabadi would face problems due to the noise pollution created by the vehicular traffic plying through the roads surrounding these venues of the Games. This pollution might impair the mental concentration of the competitors. To cope with this environmental problem during the games he suggested that the Dhaka Municipal Corporation (DMC) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities might be requested to reduce the number of traffic in the respective roads during the Games.
He further suggested bringing out a rally of the Bangladeshi athletes taking part in these games and competing in the venues in and around the stadium stated above. He said he would consider a proposal mooted in the seminar of introducing a sports and environment award in the name of one of his business concerns. The proposed award may be given for addressing environmental pollution in the sports arena of the country and successful initiative of practicing 'Green Games'.
A significant number of delegates participated in the discussion session wherein women delegates also joined. They put emphasis on the importance of environment in sports and the necessity of making the sports installations of the country pollution free. They also emphasised some other issues related to sports. Some of the issues raised by them were responded by the president of the session. Col. (Retd.) Md. Waliullah, CEO and director of BOA, responded some of their questions and apprised them of the initiatives and actions already taken by BOA. The well disciplined seminar was conducted by Mr. Jahir Ahmed, a NCD and officer in charge of solidarity, Games and IR of BOA. The following issues forming part of the commitment of the seminar arose out of the comments, suggestions and opinion of the delegates namely:
a. The sports structures of Bangladesh, specially the play grounds should be used only for practicing sports. Taking the scarcity of play grounds and open spaces suitable for practicing sports into consideration use of playing field for commercial purposes like fair and exhibitions must be prohibited. They unanimously opined that play ground is for sports not for exhibition.
b. In order to sensitise athletes, organisers and sports enthusiasts on environment in future, holding of such seminars should be decentralised from the capital city and organised in phases in administrative division and district HQs.
c. Efforts should be made to make the sports infrastructures free of environmental pollution. Athletes, organisers and sports enthusiasts should also be health conscious. The sports installations should also be made 'smoking-free zones'.
d. Cleanliness and greening are best possible choices of keeping sports structures and adjoining areas environmental pollution free. Sports facilities particularly the stadiums should be used solely for sports practice and competitions. Commercial use of sports facilities should be discontinued. The seminar urged the government authorities not to keep any provision for shops or similar structure in the architectural designs of any stadium in future.
e. Sports and environment related subjects should be included in the curricula with the objective of making the future athletes and officials of the country aware of environment. The topics already incorporated in the curriculum of the primary and secondary academic institutions should be taught with due care and seriousness.
The seminar concluded with the commitment of striving to keep the sports area of the country free from environmental pollution and practice green games in the days to come.
The National Olympic Committee of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) organised a national seminar on sports and environment at the fag end of last year on the eve of the biggest ever XI edition of South Asian Games opened in Dhaka on January 29, 2010. Notably, this was the first formal event that took place in the newly built Olympic House at Rajuk Avenue, Dhaka. The IOC and Dutch Bangla Bank of Bangladesh patronised the event.
A day before the seminar, in presence of the President, the Secretary General, other office bearers of BOA executive committee and invited guests, an auspicious house-entering ceremony was held following recitation of the holy Quran followed by prayer. Just before opening of the seminar, the inaugural plaque of the auditorium was opened by the Chairman of Dutch-Bangla Bank Mr. Shahabuddin Ahmed. Delegates from 27 national federations (NFs), 31 recognised associations and five Divisional Sports Associations namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet participated in the seminar. With the exception of Bangladesh Women Sports Association affiliated to BOA, all other NFs and associations including the divisional sports associations were represented by two delegates each.
The nomination of delegates was characterised by two distinctive features. One, BOA or its sports and environment committee gave due attention to the IOC fundamental principles of women participation in sports and women empowerment in as much as the Bangladesh Women Sports Association was allowed 10 delegates. Secondly, Federations/Associations involved in organising sports for physically challenged and otherwise disabled persons were invited to send delegates.
Accordingly, National Games for Disabled Association and Bangladesh Deaf Sports Federation were duly represented. Therefore, in seeking nomination of delegates due respect was shown to the provision of Rules 4 and 7 of the Olympic Charter. Among the participating NFs, sixteen are associated with disciplines included in the Games of Olympiad. These was archery, athletics, badminton, handball, hockey, taekwondo, tennis, shooting, swimming volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
National associations concerned with disciplines not included in the said games but recognised by the IOC were chess, karate, rugby and ushu. Ushu, of course, holds provisional recognition of the IOC. The rest of the participants in kabadi and khokho practice regional games recognised by the respective continental and regional sports organisations i.e. the OCA and South Asia Olympic Council. Another NF named Body Building Federation also attended. Bangladesh Cricket Board sent a delegate. It is worthwhile to mention that at present cricket is at the peak of popularity in Bangladesh.
Around one hundred delegates attended the seminar, among them 14 were females. The theme was 'Importance of Environment in Sports'. The keynote paper on the theme was presented by the member-secretary of BOA Sports and Environment Committee. The President of the Committee and a Vice-President of BOA Mr. Serajul Islam Bachchu presided over the sessions. In his speech, the chief guest Md. Yeasin All, Managing, Director of Dutch Bangla Bank made his observations on the key note paper with reference to the just concluded World Climate Conference, Copenhagen.
He highlighted tile socio-economic impact of climate change in Bangladesh and dwelt upon the dangerous consequences that she might face in near future due to this calamity. While making his observations on the theme, the Secretary General of BOA, Mr. Kutubuddin Ahmed, who is also one of the members of the Sports and Environment Committee of Olympic Council of Asia, focused on the environmental problems of number one Bangabandhu National Stadium and adjacent sports infrastructures and also of the surrounding area. He discussed these problems with reference to the SA Games.
He stated that athletes of some of the events of these Games including our national game-kabadi would face problems due to the noise pollution created by the vehicular traffic plying through the roads surrounding these venues of the Games. This pollution might impair the mental concentration of the competitors. To cope with this environmental problem during the games he suggested that the Dhaka Municipal Corporation (DMC) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities might be requested to reduce the number of traffic in the respective roads during the Games.
He further suggested bringing out a rally of the Bangladeshi athletes taking part in these games and competing in the venues in and around the stadium stated above. He said he would consider a proposal mooted in the seminar of introducing a sports and environment award in the name of one of his business concerns. The proposed award may be given for addressing environmental pollution in the sports arena of the country and successful initiative of practicing 'Green Games'.
A significant number of delegates participated in the discussion session wherein women delegates also joined. They put emphasis on the importance of environment in sports and the necessity of making the sports installations of the country pollution free. They also emphasised some other issues related to sports. Some of the issues raised by them were responded by the president of the session. Col. (Retd.) Md. Waliullah, CEO and director of BOA, responded some of their questions and apprised them of the initiatives and actions already taken by BOA. The well disciplined seminar was conducted by Mr. Jahir Ahmed, a NCD and officer in charge of solidarity, Games and IR of BOA. The following issues forming part of the commitment of the seminar arose out of the comments, suggestions and opinion of the delegates namely:
a. The sports structures of Bangladesh, specially the play grounds should be used only for practicing sports. Taking the scarcity of play grounds and open spaces suitable for practicing sports into consideration use of playing field for commercial purposes like fair and exhibitions must be prohibited. They unanimously opined that play ground is for sports not for exhibition.
b. In order to sensitise athletes, organisers and sports enthusiasts on environment in future, holding of such seminars should be decentralised from the capital city and organised in phases in administrative division and district HQs.
c. Efforts should be made to make the sports infrastructures free of environmental pollution. Athletes, organisers and sports enthusiasts should also be health conscious. The sports installations should also be made 'smoking-free zones'.
d. Cleanliness and greening are best possible choices of keeping sports structures and adjoining areas environmental pollution free. Sports facilities particularly the stadiums should be used solely for sports practice and competitions. Commercial use of sports facilities should be discontinued. The seminar urged the government authorities not to keep any provision for shops or similar structure in the architectural designs of any stadium in future.
e. Sports and environment related subjects should be included in the curricula with the objective of making the future athletes and officials of the country aware of environment. The topics already incorporated in the curriculum of the primary and secondary academic institutions should be taught with due care and seriousness.
The seminar concluded with the commitment of striving to keep the sports area of the country free from environmental pollution and practice green games in the days to come.