Madurai's First Olympic Academy Takes Shape: SDAT Campus to Get State-of-the-Art Sports Infrastructure

MADURAI, DEC 2023: A significant milestone was marked at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) campus on Racecourse Road in Madurai as Commercial Taxes Minister P. Moorthy officially laid the foundation stone for a new Olympic Academy.

The proposed Rs. 6 crore-academy aims to take regional sports facilities to the next level by including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a gym, basketball court, and gallery - showcasing cutting-edge sports infrastructure. What sets this project apart is that it will be developed entirely within the existing SDAT complex, as opposed to earlier plans in Tiruchirappalli.

According to sources at the SDAT, several exciting features are planned for the Olympic Academy. This includes a state-of-the-art tennis court adjacent to the gymnastic hall and basketball courts next to volleyball courts. A 5-a-side gym will reside near the indoor shuttle court, supplemented by an administrative block with a table tennis court on its first floor.

Notably, authorities have submitted a proposal to expand this 25-meter swimming pool to a 50-meter equivalent to cater to the growing demand for such facilities in the region.

District Collector M. S. Sangeetha expressed optimism regarding these state-of-the-art developments, arguing that they would serve as high-quality facilities for budding athletes - ushering sports forward in Tamil Nadu.