Over 3,000 athletes for Youth Sports Festival

NYSC Chairman Damitha Wickramasinghe (R) handing over the Festival overall trophy to Dilshan Jayakuru Secretary, Sri Lanka Youth Association

By Susil Premalal

Over 3,000 athletes have qualified to compete in the track and field events of the 33rd National Youth Sports Festival from December 19 to 22 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.  

The event will be conducted by the Ministry of Sports and the National Youth Services Council (NYSC).  
The Festival will include 12 sports disciplines while all team events have been already completed, NYSC Chairman Damitha Wickramasinghe said during a media briefing in Maharagama yesterday.   

A total of 17 track and field events will be conducted in two categories namely Under-20 and Over-20 for Men and Women.  

Meanwhile, three former best athlete award winners at the last edition, Y. C. M. Yodhasinghe of Kegalle District, S. M. Henderson of Gampaha District and B. R. I. U. Kumara of Galle District have been selected to light the Youth Festival Torch at the opening ceremony.   

The best athletes Under-20 and Over-20 at the Festival will be presented with special cash awards.  
The overall champions will receive a cash award of Rs. 150,000, runners-up Rs. 100,000 and third place Rs. 75,000.  

The opening ceremony will take place on December 19 at 3:00 p.m. and the closing ceremony will be held on December 22 at 3:30 p.m. under the patronage of Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa.