On National Sports Day, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Banwarilal Purohit, inaugurated the state-of-the-art synthetic athletic track at Sports Stadium, Sector-7 and simultaneously unveiled the new Sports Policy for UT Chandigarh.
Officials said this new facility, built to international standards, promises to be a game-changer for future athletes in training. Chandigarh is set to host the upcoming trials for the Asian Championships in September, taking place on this very track. Athletes from the city ran on this track for the inaugural event.
Purohit administered the 'Fitness Oath', setting the tone for the event and then launched the new Sports Policy. The Chandigarh Sports Policy introduces several measures, including a substantial increase in the scholarship budget for sports persons, a generous cash award of Rs. 6 crore for Olympic gold medallists (the highest in the country, rivaled only by Haryana), cash awards for coaches in 19 categories to recognize their dedication and commitment, and an innovative talent hunt program catering to children starting as young as 6 years old.
Other key elements of the policy include a rolling gradation system for sports persons based on their achievements, a sports injury and rehabilitation center, a corpus of Rs. 50 crore for differently abled sportspersons, and a dedicated corpus of Rs. 25 lakh for promising children from peripheral areas and economically weaker sections (EWS) rehabilitation colonies.
Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator, said the inauguration of the world-class Synthetic Athletic Track signifies a pivotal moment in Chandigarh's sporting history and underscores the city's commitment to nurturing a vibrant sports culture. The policy, he noted, serves as a comprehensive blueprint for strategic sports development in Chandigarh.