Uttar Pradesh has evolved into a ‘sangam’ of sportspersons from across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Thursday after virtually inaugurating the Khelo India University Games hosted by the Yogi Adityanath government.
Addressing the event, Modi said the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam had demonstrated the approach of the then Congress-led UPA government towards sports.
“Earlier no attention was paid to the development of sports. It was considered that sports was a means only to spend spare time. But today, I am happy that the perception of society and parents has changed in the country,” the prime minister said.
He expressed delight that the closing ceremony of the event would take place in Varanasi which was his parliamentary constituency.
Observing the importance of organising the third edition of the Khelo India University Games when India was celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the prime minister said that the event had become an excellent medium to inculcate the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat along with team spirit.
Talking about Uttar Pradesh, the prime minister referred to the expansion of sports facilities in Lucknow, the modernisation of Sigra Stadium in Varanasi and the creation of modern sporting facilities with an allocation of Rs 400 crore. He mentioned the synthetic hockey field at Lalpur, the multi-purpose hall at Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College in Gorakhpur, the synthetic hockey field in Meerut and the synthetic running track in Saharanpur.
The prime minister said the National Educational Policy proposed to take sports as a subject where it would become a part of the curriculum, and the construction of the country’s first National Sports University would further strengthen the cause. In states, the prime minister said, efforts were being made towards sports-specialised higher education. He said that Uttar Pradesh was doing a very commendable job and gave the example of the Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut.
Speaking on the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that under the vision and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sports was rising to new heights whether it was Khelo India or FIT India.
“Sports would ensure the vision of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat and we are proud to host the Khelo India University Games. We were building sports fields in every gram panchayat and providing sports kits to Mahila Mangal Dal in every district. We are also providing jobs to athletes, cash rewards and have reserved positions for those who win medals for the state and the country. We were energising the movement of Khelo India and welcoming all the athletes, officials, and everyone involved in the organising of the games,” the chief minister said.
This year, the Khelo India University Games are being held from May 25 to June 3 in Uttar Pradesh. Over 4,750 athletes from more than 200 universities will be competing in 21 sports. The competitions will be organised in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
The university games are part of various schemes launched by the government to support budding sportspersons and efforts have been put in to strengthen the sports ecosystem in the country.
The mascot of the games is named ‘Jitu’, which represents swamp deer (Barasingha) –the state animal of Uttar Pradesh.
The official anthem of KIUGUP2022, ‘Khelo India –Har Dil Mein Desh’, composed and sung by renowned singer Palash Sen was rendered by Kailash Kher during the opening ceremony along with other cultural displays.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur attended the ceremony virtually. Among other dignitaries present were Minister of State, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, UP Sports Minister Girish Chandra Yadav, Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan and Additional Chief Secretary (Sports) Navneet Sehgal.
