Game zone

While preparations for the first SAF Winter Games are going on in full swing, the administration also wants to use the event to boost tourism in the state:

Anjali Nauriyal

Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary Tourism and Sports, in an exclusive confab with TOD, maintains that preparations for the first SAF Winter Games are in place and the infrastructure created is fully geared up to cater to future sporting needs of the state and thus have a much wider scope.

"The infrastructure is ready, though the outer periphery works will continue till the very end," maintains Sharma in answer to a question regarding delay. "The flags and buntings and the decorations at the gate will only start a week before the event," he says adding, "We have built an asset not merely from the point of view of these games, which is a small event, but from the point of tourism at large. Aim is to put the facility to greater use so that more players are born out of Uttarakhand."

As regards postponement of the games, he avers, "Games postponement is an issue that does not concern us. It is an Indian Olympics Association (IOA) issue. The state government's main duty was to prepare the infrastructure."

Sharma points out that the rink can be dangerous for amateurs and so special theory classes are underway for 17 children who have enrolled to participate. These children will only enter the rink once the theoretical classes get over in a few days. Two Canadian experts have been in to work on the rink. It takes 36 hours for the ice to be ready. It has been tried and tested.

"The real players adept in the sport are the ones from Leh and Ladakh. About 17 of them are likely to participate. They are true professionals," informs Sharma, who maintains that there is a lot of enthusiasm building for the games and as many as 200 participants are expected to participate from India. So far 91 children have registered The practice will continue till the December 24 after which practice will be closed, Sharma discloses. Till January 5, internal maintenance will take place. From then onwards the rink will be opened for the national team.

Regarding putting the place for greater use in later years, Sharma states that plans are afoot to hold all kinds of events during weekends. This will ensure prudent utilization of the infrastructure that has cost a bomb.

"The power backup required is huge. We are planning to offer corporate and school membership. We are in the process of tying up with Delhi hoteliers for a three-day package and the like. Sports enthusiasts can come in from Delhi and adjoining areas. Three hours in a rink is good enough. We are also ready with a guest house with five star facilities. We have three training halls will serve as a training-cum-recreational centre. We can include this in the Kaudiyala loop. Presently we are in the process of exploring response and possibilities," he reveals.

Post SAF Games, a Sports Carnival is being planned for February, avers Sharma. "The publicity for the same is on and Canadian and European skaters are expected to participate," he adds.

But before that the SAF Games would be the main show. About 1200 invitees from all walks of life would witness the main event. As the main event can only accommodate a fixed number of guests, a parallel event is being planned wherein top Bollywood names, of the likes of Shankar Eshaan Loy, are likely to be roped in. "We are in the negotiating process," Sharma states.