GULMARG, MARCH 07: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan today said that sports can be a game changer for bringing Jammu and Kashmir back on track of prosperity and development.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of first Khelo India Winter Games here today, the Advisor hailed the initiative of Government of India (GoI) to hold such mega sports activities in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Sports Authority of India (SAI) has done remarkable work for roping in several agencies at all levels to hold this mega sports event in world-famed Gulmarg—which will also give a flip to the tourism sector of the valley.
“Sports can be a real game changer,” he said. “We must focus on getting more youngsters to play best sports and produce Olympians,” he added.
The Advisor said that sports activities inculcate discipline and positivity among the youngsters.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir Government under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor also aims to bring sports infrastructure at par with national and international standards.
“Our aim is to see more and more athletes on the podium and at other international events like the Asian and the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
“We are highly thankful to GoI, especially to Union Sports Ministry for accepting our plans to execute sports programmes on the ground,” he said. “Our only aim is that such programmes will create a sporting revolution,” he added.
The Advisor Khan said that there was a need to revamp the entire sports eco-system and bring it on the lines of Khelo India where athletes will have best possible sports infrastructure available.
The Advisor Khan said that Government was further aiming to upgrade infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition structure and the sports economy. He said that the government was constructing new indoor and outdoor stadium—besides other main sports stadiums are being renovated as per the standards of international level so that the sports enthusiasts get requisite facilities.
