July 9th 2022 for the Coca-Cola Games is not looking as an ideal date as the main venue, ANZ Stadium is not available and the student athletes also need time to prepare well for the games.
Coca-Cola's Marketing Manager Lawrence Tikaram is hoping to have discussions with the Minister for Education, Premila Kumar and her team to find a suitable alternative option after the Ministry confirmed that the games date is allocated for July 9th.
Tikaram says the ideal venue is not available on that day and even Churchill Park is fully booked for international test matches.
He says they would probably move the games later on subject to the Ministry’s consent or letting the Minister provide them with some avenues on what is the next step.
Tikaram also says that the Ministry had given the blanket approval for the sports days and zones to go ahead and it continues to be work in progress.
The zones are the qualifiers to the main event.
Tikaram says this is about meeting with the Ministry and trying to provide alternate solutions to the situation we have on hand which is clearly the venue not being available.
The statement sent to us last night on the schools sports dates says the Ministry of Education wishes to reaffirm the dates for the respective competitive sports announced on the 26th of April, 2022.
The Ministry notes that while students’ participation in sports plays a crucial part in students' development, it must not compromise learning and teaching hours assigned to schools.
Coca-Cola Games is listed for 9th July.
We have asked the Permanent Secretary for Education, Doctor Anjeela Jokhan if the games is only on July 9th or from July 7th to 9th.
We have also asked if the August dates announced earlier were not approved by the Education Minister.
