OKA Sports Committee and Volunteers (2023-2024), 35^th Coral Year of OKA & 1^st OKA Sports Day

Origins and Foundation:

The Ontario Konkani Association (OKA) introduced its first Sports Day during the 2023-24 term under the leadership of Presidents Rachana and Vikram Prabhu. The Ontario Konkani Association (OKA) introduced its first Sports Day during the 2023-24 term under the leadership of Presidents Rachana and Vikram Prabhu. The idea was initially proposed by Mr. Vivek Nayak, who suggested the inclusion of a Sports Coordinator in the OKA Executive Committee. Although this idea was discussed during the Executive Committee (EC) meetings, it did not materialize due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was postponed until the next Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The Concept:

During the OKA Ugadi celebrations of 2022-23, the concept of Sports Day was revisited. Rachana and Vikram Prabhu, then Vice Presidents, explored the idea further with Mr. Vivek Nayak, who enthusiastically supported it. Discussions also included Mr. Kash Nayak, who joined in supporting and facilitating the event. The initial planning aimed to foster community engagement by integrating kids, youth and sports enthusiasts into the OKA members/families, enhancing connections within the community.

Event Planning and Games:

To ensure a successful event, Mr. Vivek Nayak and Mr. Kash Nayak, along with the current Presidents, Rachana and Vikram Prabhu, curated a list of games. The selected sports for the event included:

• Basketball

• Volleyball

• Chess

• Carrom

• Badminton

• Table Tennis

Formation of the Sports Committee:

For effective organization and management of the sports tournaments, a dedicated Sports Committee was established. This committee was tasked with overseeing league functions and tournament logistics. The committee members included:

• Sanket Ullal: Recruited by Vivek Nayak, joined the committee with enthusiasm.

• Vinayak Shanbhag: Added by Kash Nayak, who was quick to accept the role.

• Murali Nayak: Another addition by Kash Nayak, accepted the role promptly.

• Aditya Naik: Also added by Kash Nayak, readily accepted the position.

The formation of the Sports Committee was scheduled to be formally approved during the upcoming Picnic in 2024.

Ontario Konkani Association (OKA) Sports Day: Future Vision and Support:

The vision for the OKA Sports Day is to establish it as an annual event, akin to the Konkani Premier League (KPL), to enhance both sports and community spirit within the OKA members/families. This vision received strong backing from the Joint Committee, led by Mangesh and Shilpa Bailur, who supported the initiative wholeheartedly.

Following this endorsement, the proposal for making Sports Day an annual fixture was officially approved at the subsequent Annual General Meeting (AGM) & OKA Picnic on 13^th July 2024. This decision marks a significant milestone in embedding sports and community engagement as core elements of the OKA’s activities.