THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
“SportX Kerala-2019”, a first-of-its-kind three-day International Sports Expo ever held in the state, will begin at Jimmy George Indoor Stadium here on March 7, where more than 100 leading manufacturers of sports goods and fitness equipment will showcase a wide range of niche products.
The expo will be inaugurated by Minister for Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs, E P Jayarajan, at Jimmy George Indoor Stadium at 9.30 am on Thursday. On the sidelines of the event, being organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, in association with Indian Exhibition Services, a series of seminars on key topics of contemporary sports and sports-related activities have also been planned.
V.K. Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, and T.P. Dasan, President, Kerala State Sports Council, will be the chief guests at the inaugural session. V S Sivakumar MLA will preside over the inaugural function.
Touching on the salient features of the mega show at a press meet here on Tuesday, Dr A Jayatilak, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, said the expo will be a platform for the buyers in the state to familiarise themselves with modern sports equipment and make contracts with India’s major sports equipment suppliers.
Sanjayan Kumar, Director, Sports and Youth Affairs, said that the expo will offer the public a vivid idea about the reigning trends in modern sports, by bringing together brands, experts and consumers, by displaying a wide array of products of leading sports, fitness and wellness industry.
The long list of exhibits includes sports goods and accessories, fitness, rehabilitation and adventure sports equipment, toys, games, gaming devices and beauty products. Being held when the sports infrastructure is poised for major changes, the expo will have an entire segment on technology, raw material, machineries and allied industries.
Panel discussions on “Sports Infrastructure”, “Sports Training-Modern Trends,” and “CSR in Sports” will be held on the inaugural day. There will also be sessions on “Startups in Sports”, and “Sports Marketing” on March 8.
Experts in respective fields and leading athletes, trainers, physical educationists and sports administrators will lead the presentations at the seminars. This is for the first time that an event like this is happening in Kerala in terms of convergence of policy makers, sports goods industry, sports organizations, educationists and other stake-holders from across the country.
Major stakeholders of the sports fraternity in Kerala and outside, including representatives of Sports Federations/Associations, Coaches of Kerala State Sports Council/GV Raja Sports School/Kannur Sports Division/LNCPE among others, will participate.
There shall be one activity zone during the three days where Fight Nights – an activity by Kerala State Amateur Boxing Association, Kalaripayattu demonstration by Kerala Kalaripayattu Association, Mr. Sportx – an event by Trivandrum Body Building Association, Karate demonstration by Kerala Karate Association, Hooper series by Kerala Basketball Association, Introduction to Scuba Diving and Under water games etc shall also be displayed.
Details of the programme can be obtained from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Kerala. Phone: 7356881995 Email: sportxkerala2019@gmail.com. Website : www.sportskerala.org
