Dehradun, 23 Dec: The countdown for the National Games officially began on Monday when Sports Minister Rekha Arya flagged off the promotion teams from Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium. In addition, the Sports Minister conducted a video conferencing session with the District Magistrates (DMs) of all 13 districts to review the preparations.
The formal torch relay for the National Games will commence on 26 December from Golapark in Haldwani. To kick off the event, three decorated vehicles and other teams were sent from Dehradun on Monday. Minister Rekha Arya stated that the torch relay, starting from Haldwani on 26 December, will travel for a month and reach Dehradun on 25 January. Various events such as bicycle rallies, marathons, morning processions, tug-of-war, arm wrestling, and quizzes in schools will be held in each district for two to three days. Additionally, a target has been set to register at least 500 volunteers in each district to participate in the National Games. During the video conference, Sports Minister Arya directed the district officials to set up selfie points during these events, where the public could take selfies with symbols of the National Games. Furthermore, youth dressed as Mavli (a traditional character) will engage with the public.
Pandavas Band to Make a Splash
To showcase Uttarakhand’s culture with a new flair during the National Games, the famous Pandavas Band will perform five shows across the state during the torch relay. Discussions are also ongoing with folk artists like Kamla Devi to organize one or two major cultural events in each district that highlight the state’s cultural heritage.
Republic Day Celebrations to be Painted in National Games Colors
This year, the Republic Day celebrations will be infused with the spirit of the National Games. School and college events will feature floats representing symbols of the National Games. Moreover, on Republic Day, children will be educated about the significance and history of the National Games, as well as the benefits of excelling in sports.
Training for Athletes on Avoiding Doping
On Monday, a workshop was conducted for athletes training for the state teams to help them understand how to avoid falling into doping traps. Sports Minister Rekha Arya inaugurated the session at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Minister Arya emphasized that athletes often unknowingly fall into the trap of banned substances because they are unaware of which drugs fall under the doping category. She urged athletes to always be mindful, as their parents have placed great trust in them to become sports professionals. The workshop included training by Amit Kandwal, an expert from the National Anti-Doping Agency. Athletes from ongoing training camps in Dehradun and other cities participated in the workshop via video conferencing.
Special Sports Secretary Amit Sinha, Director Prashant Arya, and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
