MUMBAI: The stage is set for the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune to host one of the largest ever congregation of sportspersons and officials, numbering around 12,000 from all over the country, when the curtains go up on Wednesday, January 9, for the Khelo India Youth Games, Maharashtra 2019.
The Khelo India Youth Games 2019, which sill run from Wednesday through to January 20, will feature India’s best sporting talents from 29 states and 7 Union Territories, in the age groups of Under-17 and Under-21, competing for top honours in 18 sporting disciplines.
The champions will then be identified and provided with financial and infrastructural assistance to achieve their sporting aspirations.
A total outlay of Rs 400 million has been spent for the Khelo India Youth Games, from which 80% of the expenditure has been towards refurnishing the existing sports infrastructure. The Union government has funded up to 50% of that expenditure, Vinod Tawde, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister, government of Maharashtra, said here Monday at a pre-event media briefing.
“It is an honour to host the 2nd edition of Khelo India Youth Games. In this age of technology, where our youth is increasingly entangled in the clutches of cyber slavery, we aim to groom a strong sports culture in the country,” Tawde said, while sharing details about the 2nd Kehlo India Youth Games, a platform to identify and then nurture the country’s best junior sporting talent.
“It’s definitely an honour for the State of Maharashtra to win the rights to host the Khelo India Youth Games. We bid for the games and were then picked from the three finalists, thanks to the wonderful multi-sports infrastructure at the Shiv Chhatrapati Stadium, Pune,” the Minister added.
Elaborating on the purpose of hosting the Khelo India Youth Games, Tawde said: “The Khelo India Youth Games would help in strengthening the sports culture of the nation and also help In identifying students with sports potential, thus grooming them for future sports events on the national and international level.
“The winners would be provided with financial and infrastructural assistance to achieve their sporting aspirations.”
Touching on the arrangements made for the players and officials who will be traveling to Pune and Mumbai for the Games, Tawde said that players have been provided with quality accommodation while special care is being taken towards their diet and nutrition.
“All the needs of the sportsmen are being taken care of, so they can focus totally on giving their best on the field,” said Tawde.
A temporary 10-bed hospital with fully equipped emergency & ICU facilities would be set up, there would be 18 ambulances on site, with emergency responders and first aid at all arenas.
The opening ceremony of the Games will be held at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Balewadi, Pune on Wednesday and will see Union Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare Maj Rajyavardhan Rathore, chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, and Tawde, among other dignitaries, attending.
