SAF Winter Games in Dehradun

SAF Winter Games will be held from January 7 to 12 in Auli and January 14 to 19 in Dehradun::

Anjali Nauriyal

The first ever South Asian Federation (SAF) Winter Games are now scheduled to be held in two slots in Auli and Dehradun in January 2011. Though the preparations for the games are far from complete, the authorities are confident that all will be in place in time. It may be recalled that the event has been cancelled three times in the past. And a whopping amount of Rs 110 crore has been already spent on the event. The Winter Games Federation of India has announced new dates for the event - January 7 to 12 in Auli and January 14 to 19 in Dehradun.

According to Brig. S.S. Patwal (retd), President, WGFI, "Our preparations are well in place and the indoor stadium in Doon will be the venue for ice hockey." He informed that as many as eight South Asian countries are likely to participate. And the major events would include speed skating, figure skating, ice skating and many more. Majority of the events would be held in the city, while events requiring ski slopes would be held in Auli. Patwal expresses confidence that the Winter Games 2011 will work as the launching pad for future winter sports in Uttarakhand and will attract a large number of sports persons and tourists from India and abroad. Grand opening and closing ceremonies have already been planned. A winter sports team for participating in forthcoming 7th Asian Winter Games to be held in Kazakhstan would also be selected shortly.

Patwal was addressing the first WGFI's Technical Committee Members' meeting at the Ice Skating Rink after having taken over as the president. He further said that the games would open up many avenues in sports providing employment opportunities to the youth of the state.

A state-of-the-art skiing infrastructure, which includes homologated ski slopes with artificial snow making system, has been developed in Auli. Similarly an Ice Skating Rink has been constructed in Dehradun.

Bharal, the Himalayan Blue Sheep, has been chosen as the mascot of the Winter Games, keeping in view its agility, strength, sure-footedness and adaptability for survival in high altitudes.