Proposed sports academy to strengthen Kozhikode Corpn.’s anti-drug drive

Amid growing concerns over rising substance abuse among youngsters, the Kozhikode Corporation is looking to promote sports as a positive alternative. At the heart of the initiative is a sports academy that the Corporation plans to set up with support from the District Sports Council.

As a preliminary step, the Corporation conducted a study on the available playgrounds across the city. According to the study, there are 311 playgrounds in total—some owned by the Corporation, others by schools and colleges, and some under private ownership. Football, being the most popular sport in the region, is played on 72 of these grounds, 21 of which are owned by the Corporation.

However, the study also found that most of the playgrounds lack associated coaching facilities. Therefore, the Corporation is planning to develop coaching centres for various sports based on popular demand. Training centres for yoga and aerobics are also part of the plan.

Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed, in the Corporation Budget for the year 2025–26, presented recently, said that sufficient funds had been set aside to revive playgrounds with the support of local clubs and residents’ associations and to purchase necessary equipment for each sporting event.

The Budget allocation includes ₹4 crore to acquire land for a playground at Vengeri, ₹30 lakh for the construction of a ground at Palattuthazham, ₹25 lakh for the development of the ground at Bhatt Road, ₹20 lakh for the ground at Puthiyappa, ₹25 lakh for the Poolakkadavu football ground, and ₹5 crore to construct a stadium on Corporation land at Pallikkandy.

The sports academy, to be developed under the theme ‘Sports for All, All for Sports’, aligns with the State government’s sports policy.

The academy will focus on developing basic infrastructure and making the best use of available human resources. A by-law for the academy was recently passed by the Corporation council.

The civic body also plans to organise a variety of inter-school sports competitions at the Corporation level and offer training in select sports at designated schools with support from the Government College of Physical Education.