PANAJI
In the week marking the 13th death anniversary of Dempo Sports Club's former Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior, who died after colliding with the rival goalkeeper in the Federation Cup finals in 2004 for lack of life-saving treatment at the ground, the paramedical experts are still scarce as people and sportspersons in general, are somehow not serious about gaining expertise in the matter.
Here comes the great news and an eye-opener to people from all walks of life, as Rashtriya Life Saving Society India (RLSSI) based in Pune, are organising ‘Rescue India 2017' National Life-saving Championship in Pool, Ocean and Beach events.
The pool event will be held at the Sports Authority of Goa swimming pool complex at Campal-Panaji from December 12-14, while the Ocean and Beach life-saving championships, will be conducted at Chivla Beach, Malvan, from December 15-17.
The RLSSI has been organising such events since 2002 and had also hosted one in Goa back then; on an annual basis to enhance life-saving skills in a sporting environment. According to RSSLI, ‘life-saving sports' are unique, since they are the only sports in which the skills are first learnt for the humanitarian purpose of saving a life and only then, applied to competitions in the ocean or a swimming pool.
‘Rescue India 2017' will comprise of following events: Pool - Manikin Carry 50 & 100M, Rescue Medley 100M, Manikin Tow With Fins 50&100M, Obstacle Swim 50, 100 & 200M,
Super Lifesaver 200M, Line Throw (4 Teams Per State) 10 & 12M, 4 X 25 Manikin Carry Relay, 4 X 50 Obstacle Relay, 4 X 50 Medley Relay, Serc (1 Team Per State). Ocean - Surf Race, Board Rescue, Taplin Relay, Rescue Tube, Rescue Board Race, Run Swim Run. Beach - 1 Km Beach Run, Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, CPR Competition. The events will be conducted as per the age-groups: U-12 (8-12years old) boys & girls, U-14 (12+ to 14 years) boys & girls, U-16 (14+ to16years) boys & girls, Open (16+ to 25 years old) boys & girls, Masters (25+) men & women; for all those who know to swim.
The events will be held as per the rules and regulations of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) and Royal Life Saving Society (Commonwealth). ‘Rescue India 2017' also serves as a selection trial to select the Indian team for the ‘Rescue 2018' World Life-saving Championship to be held in Adelaide-Australia.
The apex body governing life-saving sports, ILS is head-quartered in Belgium, and is affiliated to the International Olympic Committee for the conduct of life-saving sports internationally. It's official website describes the ILS as ‘an unique international federation in that it sponsors and sanctions athletic competition as an important method of furthering its humanitarian lifesaving work. Lifesaving through competition is one of the established goals and its motto is "be fit to save a life".'
One can easily understand the importance and burning desire to develop paramedical experts out of the sportspersons in particular as in today's increasingly competitive world where tackles are at times life-threatening, the humanitarian aspect is something that should be promoted with wholehearted support. Otherwise, what is the point in being a gold medal-winning swimmer but without any lifesaving skills to prevent somebody from drowning!
For that matter, anybody can participate and be a ‘life-saving sportsperson' as it is an unique premise and also a movement spearheaded by Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India), which educates the masses on the need to be safe.
