Waris Fayaz
Baramulla, Feb 09 : Gulmarg is all set to host Khelo India Winter Games 2023 from Friday with all arrangements in place to make it a grand event.
The meadow witnesses massive flow of foreign tourists especially during winters for skiing.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Khelo India Winter Games 2023 are jointly organised by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council as well as the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur visited Tangmarg ahead of the commencement of the winter Games played snow cricket amidst snowfall.
He told reporters that Khelo India is a campaign wherein youth games, university games and winter games are organised.
The minister said Youth Games are going on in nine cities of Madhya Pradesh.
“This snowfall marks the commencement of Winter Games in Gulmarg, the heaven on earth. Over 1500 participants from across the country are here. They will participate in 11 games in the 6-day-long Khelo India Winter Games. This will be the biggest such event till date”, he said as per the KNO.
Officials told KNO that all the necessary arrangements including accommodation, health facilities, transportation, parking and other facilities are in place. The event will start from February 10 till 14.
About 1700 athletes from across the country and 350 VIPs and VVIPs are scheduled to attend the event, they said.
Recently, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur along with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the 3rd Khelo India National Winter Games Anthem, mascot and jersey.
In 2020, the first edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, which was aimed to popularise winter games among the youth across the country were held in Leh and Gulmarg, marking the first of its kind event in India—(KNO)