For the first time in the country, Kerala's State School Sports Meet will feature 1,800 differently-abled students in a fully inclusive event. The meet, set to take place in Kochi from November 4 to 11, will include 21 events—three games and 18 athletic competitions—designed for differently-abled participants.
This year's meet will be held at 17 venues across the district and will feature 24,000 students competing in 39 different events. General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced the landmark decision at a press conference on Tuesday, underscoring the importance of inclusion in education. "The general education department aims for the integral development of all children. Healthy and able citizens are crucial for the nation’s progress, and this inclusive approach will set a benchmark for the future," he said.
For the first time, eight schools from Gulf countries will also be participating in the meet, further enhancing its global appeal. The event, which is modeled after the Olympics, will kick off with an inaugural procession starting from Kerala’s southern and northern ends—Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod. The two processions will meet at the Kaloor Stadium on November 3, carrying the event’s lantern and mascot, ‘Thakkudu’.
Film star Mammootty will inaugurate the cultural programs following the opening ceremony. More than 3,000 students are set to perform in various cultural events. The closing ceremony, to be held at the Maharaja’s College ground, will be officiated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
This year's meet marks another shift as all events will take place in a single district, unlike previous editions where multiple districts hosted different activities. Competitions will run both during the day and at night, with the district securing the most points receiving the Chief Minister's ever-rolling trophy for the first time.
Additionally, the State School Science Festival will be held from November 15 to 18 in Alappuzha, featuring 180 events across multiple school levels.
