Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 22, 2024: The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka conducted its second Sport Administrators Course for 2024 under the auspices of Olympic Solidarity at Sri Lanka Olympic House in Colombo from October 10-13.
The programme saw participation from 26 sport administrators representing various organisations, including NOC Sri Lanka, National Sport Federations, the Armed Forces, universities and clubs.
This edition marked a significant milestone as it was the first time in the 40-year history of this programme that female participants (14) outnumbered their male counterparts.
The course was led by a distinguished panel of National Course Directors, including Mr. B.L.H. Perera, Group Captain Nalin de Silva, Ms. Olivia Gamage and Mr. Gobinath Sivarajah, along with Provincial National Course Director Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando.
The curriculum was based on the Sport Administration Manual published by Olympic Solidarity and covered key topics such as Olympism, the Olympic Movement, Games management and essential management skills.
The course delivery was dynamic, incorporating not only lectures but also group presentations, discussions and role-playing activities, fostering an interactive learning environment.
Some of the participants shared their four-day learning and sharing experience:
*Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka’s intern Ms. Janithri Madara: “The programme conducted was really successful. I learned a lot of methods of practical application or real-time applications of the administration activities in sports. The lectures didn’t follow traditional methods. It was really interactive and interesting. Love the courses.”
*Sri Lanka Airforce Wg. Cdr. C.P. Hettiarachchi: “During the course, we covered many important topics essential to sport management. The inclusion of case studies was highly appreciated and will greatly benefit all young managers in the field of sport administration. Additionally, we gained hands-on experience related to various situations in sport management. The programme was well-crafted according to the Sport Administration Manual, and it was commendable. The training facilities and other arrangements were superb, particularly the punctuality of all staff.”
*Ms. Upuli Dahanayake, Nutritionist at the Institute of Sports Medicine, Ministry of Sports: “This programme significantly enhanced our understanding of sports administration and emphasized the importance of teamwork, fair play and clean sport. The distinguished panel of lecturers conducted the sessions in a friendly and engaging manner, allowing us to develop essential managerial skills. Overall, this experience has equipped us to be more vigilant in our respective areas.”