The Chhattisgarh Government has commenced initial preparations for holding the 37th National Games to be hosted in the State scheduled next year.
Initially, the Government is going to get a detailed project report (DPR) prepared from consultants who have experience of preparing DPRs of National Games, Asiad or Commowealth Games before starting work for building necessary infrastructure required for conducting the games, officials stated.
Notably, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in December last year had submitted a detailed report pertaining to preparations already underway for the proposed 37th National Games to be held in Chhattisgarh in 2017 to Chief Minister Raman Singh in New Delhi.
As per the official information, the report submitted to Chief Minister was based on information compiled by a Committee of the Association which had conducted inspection of stadiums in Chhattisgarh.
The report was submitted to the Chief Minister by General Secretary of the Association Rajeev Mehta in New Delhi.
Highlighting the requirements for smooth execution of national games, Mehta said that wide and spacious indoor stadiums will be required for hosting games like handball, basketball, table tennis, badminton and other indoor games.
Notably, Chief Minister Raman Singh on September 22 last year had chaired a meeting of executive committee of Chhattisgarh Olympic Association in Raipur.
Several important decisions regarding development of sports in the State and also about the arrangements to be made for forthcoming 37th National Games to be held in Chhattisgarh.
The Chief Minister said that strict compliance to quality standards should be ensured while developing sports infrastructure.
Singh said in the meeting that sports talents of the State, who have won medals for Chhattisgarh during the past or who have missed winning the medal with narrow margin, should be groomed into becoming international-level sports persons.
Such sports should also be identified, and related sports persons should be provided best possible sports and training facilities, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Bastar Division is blessed with great talents in athletics as well as other sports. These talented youngsters can be trained for national and international-level sports tournaments.
Singh insisted that industries should extend support for development of sports infrastructure in Bastar.
While reviewing the preparations for 37th National Games, the Chief Minister had stated that Chhattisgarh Olympic Association should coordinate with other sports associations and chalk out action plan for expediting the preparations for National Games.
He added that as various competitions under national games will be organised in Raipur, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon and Durg-Bhilai, proper accommodation and training arrangements for sports persons should be made in these cities.
The Chief Minister gave this information during his meeting with IOA delegation organized at his residential office in Raipur.
The IOA delegation was on a tour of Chhattisgarh for inspection of ongoing arrangement in Chhattisgarh for 37th National Games. Singh had assured the delegation that Chhattisgarh is ready to host 37th National Games.
He said that there will be no lack of funds, as State government will seek support from private industrial units and public undertakings for organizing the event.
The Chief Minister said that along with Raipur, a number of sports facilities have been developed in Durg-Bhilai, Rajnandgaon and Bilaspur.