KARACHI: As summer vacations approach, public and private education institutions, sports associations and a number of sports academies have started preparations for summer camps, a survey conducted by ‘The News’ reveals.
It is pertinent to note that the government runs summer camps and some sports associations and individuals organise summer camps free of cost.
At these summer camps basic sports coaching is provided to emerging and talented young children of middle and lower middle classes who cannot afford exorbitant fees of money-hungry sports organisers’ summer camps organised in big hotels.
KMC’s summer camp is one of the most entertaining camps in the city because it has two swimming pools in the city and organises two summer camps: one for boys and one for girls.
People of lower and middle classes are always desirous of having their children participate in summer vacations.
One month of the vacations falls in Ramadan this time, due to which the importance of summer camps has further increased as children will have only one month to dedicate to sports.
These summer camps would be held at KMC’s sports complex at Kashmir Road, Women Sports Complex (WSC) for girls in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Landhi sports complex, KMC football stadium at Nishtar Road, People’s Sports Complex in Mauripur, and Badar-ul-Hasan Sports complex in Nazimabad.
This year, KMC sports, culture and recreation department has also included paintings, sculpture making and music part of its summer camps. These three activities will be held at Kashmir Road Sports Complex and Women Sports Complex, sources said.
Senior director of KMC sports, culture and recreation department Saif Abbas said that despite a lot of hurdles, the department was providing a lot of facilities to entertain the children under the patronage of qualified and processional coaches and experts of paintings and sculpture.
“We have two swimming pools: one at Kashmir Road sports complex and the other at Women Sports Complex,” he said.
The Landhi sports complex also has a swimming pool, but it could not be confirmed if this year summer camp participants will be allowed to use the facility.
Abbas said KMC would try its best to make that pool available for children.
He said that all details about registration in these summer camps would be announced during Ramadan.
He said that football is fast gaining popularity among school children. “We are organising two summer camps for this purpose. Qualified football coaches will provide coaching to children at KMC football stadium Nishtar Road and People’s Sports Complex in Mauripur,” he said.
Women Sports Complex has all indoor games facilities, including swimming.
Yoga classes will be organised under the supervision of experts.
“Swimming is the best sport for children during summer vacations. It is the main event during the summer vacations for both boys and girls. Thus, we have planned for children’s summer camp at KMC sports complex and for girls at women sports complex,” he said.
Schools’ administrations have been asked to contact the KMC sports department for participation of girls in the camp at the women sports complex.
Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will also organise summer camps in various disciplines.
Acting director of PSB national coaching centre Rafiq Pirzada said that they had organised a summer camp in March but it had to be discontinued due to national athletics championship. “But we will re-organise the summer camp in July,” he said.
The administration would soon announce its details, he said.
Sindh Sports Board official has said that his department would organise activities for the youth during the vacations.
SSB would organise a summer camp at its complex in Nazimabad in various disciplines, he said.
The camp would include events of gymnastics, tae kwondo, badminton, table tennis, squash, judo and karate, the SSB official said.
The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) has directed all seven zones to organise summer camps for budding players. The dates of these camps would be announced soon, a KCCA spokesman said.
Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) president Dr Junaid Ali Shah said that the association would organise summer camp in July for children. He said KHA’s doors were open for all children. “They will not have to pay anything. We will provide hockey sticks and other facilities to them,” he said.
KHA’s complex has been activated after the laying of a green turf.
Dr Junaid, son of former sports minister late Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, said the cricket coaching camp at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium would be held as it used to be during his father’s life.
Dr Junaid said that the details of this camp would be announced in Ramadan, and it would be held in July.
A month-long Athletics Fitness School (AFS) Summer Coaching camp for boys and girls will commence at Hockey Club of Pakistan from July 1. The timing will be from 5pm to 7pm.
A panel of coaches headed by former international athlete and coach Mohammad Talib will impart fitness and track and field training to the participants.
Interested athletes have been asked to register themselves at AFS from 5pm to 6:30 pm.
They can also register themselves at athleticfitnessschoolgmail.com. June 28 is the last date for registration. Talib said no fee would be charge for the month-long coaching camp.
Sindh Squash Association president Amir Khan also announced that SAA would organise a free squash coaching camp during the vacations.