Colombo, Feb 20, 1PM – In a historic move, Sri Lanka has introduced its first-ever National High Performance Programme for the Olympics. The initiative, named ‘Road to Paris 2024,’ aims to prepare 58 top athletes for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris and the Summer Paralympic Games.
Initially, the program included 44 athletes. Following numerous requests, 14 more elite athletes were added, bringing the total to 58 – 33 Olympic athletes and 25 para-athletes. These high-performance athletes will receive necessary facilities, funding, and a monthly allowance to participate in crucial Olympic qualifiers leading up to the Paris Games.
The Paris Olympics are scheduled from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Summer Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8. The initiative, under the guidance of Sports Minister Harin Fernando, Director General of Sports Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando Ph.D., and the National Sports Council headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekara, has received unanimous recommendations for all 58 athletes to join the National High Performance Pool.
The National High Performance Pool comprises 33 athletes from 11 Olympic sports, with nine from athletics, two each from boxing, weightlifting, shooting, and gymnastics. One athlete each is selected from badminton, diving, judo, squash, swimming, and wrestling.
Additionally, 25 para-athletes have been selected across eight Paralympic sports, including 13 from para athletics, three from para shooting, and two each from para archery, wheelchair sports, para swimming, para badminton, and para rowing.