Weightlifting made its debut during the Olympic Day celebrations in Wangdue Phodrang, today. Being a new sport to be introduced to students this year, it attracted small children during the event.
Bhutan Olympic Committee(BOC) celebrates the Olympic Day to promote fitness and wellbeing among the youth.
Children as young as four were seen taking part in the sporting activities. Some put up an exciting boxing match for the crowd while few learnt about weightlifting hoping to represent the country in the future.
“Weightlifting is really interesting as it helps us develop strength and builds our muscles which are good for our body,” said one of the participants, Chimi Gyeghel.
Another participant, Dorji Gyeltshen said, “Weightlifting is fascinating as it not only helps in developing our muscles and strength but also keeps us fit. If we practice well, we will get to participate at the international level and visit foreign countries”.
Weightlifting federation is a new federation established three months ago. Prior to that, it was under Bodybuilding Federation. Since it is one of the Olympic sports, BOC decided to make it a separate federation. Now, it plans to arrange sport events in all the districts and select the talented athletes.
“Then we will train them properly and make them participate in international events and represent the country. And right now we are mainly focusing on youth,” said the National Coach of Bhutan Weightlifting Federation, Sonam Dhendup.
The Olympic Day was celebrated to commemorate the birth of modern Olympic Games with an aim to inculcate children with Olympic values of move, learn, and discover.
“Affiliated to the Bhutan Olympic Committee, we have 15 sport federations and four associations but most of the time, we are not able to offer students, the opportunity to participate in these 19 different sports. So by taking the Olympic day to a different dzongkhag every year, we hope to introduce the children to these sports,” said the Secretary General of BOC, Sonam Karma Tshering.
Over 1500 students from six different schools in Wangdue Phodrang participated in the celebration, which included a five-kilometre run and a merry-making festival with various sporting activities.
