By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 21 Jan: Athletes participating in the National Games will be provided their preferred food. Following the instructions of Sports Minister Rekha Arya, the control room is personally calling each athlete to inform them about accommodation, food, transport, and other facilities. So far, nearly 7000 selected athletes have been contacted.
On Tuesday, during a meeting held at the Rajat Jayanti Sports Complex, Sports Minister Rekha Arya reviewed the arrangements through video conferencing with officials from various departments. The minister gathered information regarding transport, food, accommodation, and other arrangements for athletes and their support staff. She directed the electricity department to ensure uninterrupted power supply and also inquired about waste management at these venues.
After the meeting, Sports Minister Rekha Arya stated, “We want athletes coming from other states to feel that their arrangements are being personally taken care of in Uttarakhand. Hence, the control room is contacting each selected athlete. We are making special food arrangements for athletes coming from different states to ensure they get their preferred dishes.”
The meeting was attended by Special Sports Secretary Amit Sinha, Joint Director Ajay Agarwal, Deputy Director Shakti Singh, and other officials.
At the meeting, Sports Minister Rekha Arya instructed the sports officers of all districts to take responsibility for the arrangements personally and coordinate with the respective departments. She emphasised that, if any issues arise during the event, the district sports officers will be held accountable and strict action will be taken against them. The minister also told district sports officers, “Until the National Games are over, do not worry about my protocol. You can contact me directly at any time, but the work must be done correctly and on time.”
It was also decided during the meeting that for four sports—Powerlifting, Swimming, Rugby, and Boxing—physiotherapists, general doctors, and cardiologists will be available at the respective venues. Sports Minister Rekha Arya explained, “In these sports, there is a higher likelihood of serious injuries or heart problems, so a cardiologist must be available at all times. Coordination will be done with government hospitals, military hospitals, and private hospitals for this purpose.”
