Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Tuesday inaugurated the 60th National School Under-17 Volleyball Tournament (boys and girls) at Pavilion Ground here. Over 600 players from 27 States and organizations are participating in the five-day event. The event was declared open by Rawat by releasing of pigeons and hoisting of flag.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that such events should be regularly organised so that an environment of sports is created in the State. He said that for promotion of sports in the State a proper sports policy would be implemented. The Chief Minister declared a monetary award of Rs 9,000 for the team securing first place and Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 to the teams getting second and third position respectively in the tournament. Rawat also announced that all the members of Uttarakhand teams would be given a track suit.
The Chief Minister took salute on a spectacular march past which was taken out by the students belonging to National Cadet Corps (NCC), NSS and different schools of the State. Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani said that successful organisation of a national level sports event would alleviate sports in the State.
The students of different Government schools presented a wonderful cultural programme on the occasion. The musical ballet depicting the recently concluded Nada Raj Jat Yatra drew applause from the audience. The little children also drew appreciation when they performed a musical portrayal of worship of lord Shiva the reigning deity of Kedarnath dham.