Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday announced that the international standard hockey Astroturf ground in Raipur will be inaugurated on the occasion of birth anniversary of Major Dhyanchand during the ‘National Sports Day’ function on August 29 in the city this year.
This apart, the sports complex being constructed in Bilaspur is also nearing completion, he said while speaking at a State-level event of International Olympics Day held here on Monday morning.
On the occasion, Singh also opened the ‘Anti-doping seminar’ organized for creating awareness amongst sportspersons regarding prohibited drugs.
During the seminar held at the conference hall of new Circuit House here, the Chief Minister said that construction of 300-seater youth sports hostel in Raipur has also been approved to provide better infrastructure for talented sportspersons of the State.
After establishing the State’s first hockey Astro Turf ground in Rajnandgaon, construction of second Astro Turf of State is underway at an expedited pace in Raipur. Soon, Divisional and District Headquarters Bilaspur will also have its own Astro Turf. In this way, the State will have a total of three hockey Astro Turf grounds, he said.
Chhattisgarh is having quite a favourable environment for various sports. It is noteworthy that construction of Astro Turf hockey ground near Government Science College is underway at war footing at the cost of nearly `12 crore while that in Bilaspur, it is being constructed at the cost of nearly `10 crore. Moreover, the estimated cost of construction of sports complex in Bilaspur is around `100 crores, Singh said.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that the sportspersons of Chhattisgarh have got great potential and talent. During the past few years, our sportspersons have glorified the name of the State and the country as a whole in various national and international sports tournaments.
About the anti-doping seminar, Singh said that holding of such a seminar on the occasion of ‘International Olympics Day’ is extremely important. As in this seminar, the experts of the subject will provide necessary information to the sportspersons.
The Chief Minister said that every sportsperson desires victory in a competition and strives hard for it. But sometimes the sportspersons fall into the temptation of using prohibited drugs while at other times they unknowingly fall into this trap. Hence, the sportspersons should be utterly careful in this regard and they should completely avoid consumption of prohibited drugs.
Especially the budding sports talent of State, who are gearing up for national and international sports tournaments, should be necessarily equipped with all the information about adverse effects of consuming prohibited drugs, Singh said.
The Chief Minister said that film actors may use certain drugs to lose or gain weight as per their role and demand of the script, but sportspersons should never ever opt for it. Because sportspersons have to stand on the grounds of reality to give live performance; to give their best shot during the real game amid thousands of viewers cheering for them.
They (sportspersons) should be well-aware of these prohibited drugs, so that they may refrain from its consumption. If a sportsperson consumes steroid, then the traces of this steroid may remain in his blood for a way longer duration, and this may cause major embarrassment to him when diagnosed during dope test, he said
Singh expressed hope that the talented sportspersons of Chhattisgarh will remain careful and alert to avoid consumption of such drugs.
The Chief Minister extended warm wishes for the success of the event.General Secretary of Chhattisgarh Olympic Sangh Baldeo Singh Bhatia delivered the welcome address.
On the occasion, Sports and Youth Welfare Department Secretary Subrat Sahu, Director Sports and Youth Welfare Jitendra Shukla, Executive Member of Olympic Association of India, Vikram Sisodia, and other senior sportspersons were also present.
Sports teachers, trainers from schools of School Education and Tribal Caste and Scheduled Caste Development Department and Sports officers of various districts also participated in this seminar.
Baldeo Singh Bhatia presented a memento of International Olympics Day to the Chief Minister on the occasion.