Sports Minister Ahmed Khanou has lauded the Indian community on the International Yoga Day for such a wonderful gift they gave to the world.
He was speaking after an impressive Yoga demonstration at the Mamba Point past Saturday that attracted sports personalities, as well as the Indian community, in which he applauded the courage of Prime Minister Modi in proposing such a resolution and congratulated the world community for its adoption.
Ahmed Khanou further indicated that “Sierra Leone’s development agenda, as espoused in the recently launched ‘President’s Development Priorities’ is an effort to realign the derailed Agenda for Prosperity, adding that, realising the inextricable link between physical activity and development, Cabinet has authorized the Sports Ministry to proceed with a National Sports Conference.
The Conference, he said will be aimed at repositioning sports for sustainable development, an effort he would love to see all present compliment when the time comes.
Ahmed Khanou related sports and physical education that can promote a broad spectrum of life skills and values that build on individual capacity such as team building, communication, decision making, problem-solving, sense of community and self-esteem.
Furthermore he said, personal responsibility, empathy, moral development, resilience, and improved inclination for educational achievement, as all of these are what Sam Kutesa, President of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly said before the vote on the resolution, ‘a unique embodiment of unity between mind and body. Yoga brings thought and action together in harmony.’
The Sports Minister further urged all saying “let each of us go out from this day caring for the world, for, as Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN puts it… yoga is as much about mindful though as it is about mindful action.”
Dignitaries were thrilled to a first class display by some members of the Indian and Diplomatic communities, coupled with Sierra Leoneans, balancing on their hands or sitting with their legs behind their heads.
By Bernard Turay
Tuesday June 28, 2016
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