State Sports Director Dadan Chaubey feels that gathering a crowd for the 2nd South Asian Federation (SAF) Junior Athletics Championships is a challenge. It is not possible to have many spectators like international cricket match, he said.
Explaining his perception, Chaubey said, “For the first time ever Jharkhand is hosting an international sports tournament at Mega Sports Complex. Atleast, our government is able to host. That is enough.”
Similar were the words of renowned dancer Vipul Nayak whose team is performing a fusion dance at the opening ceremony of this meet. He said, “Our fortune to host this international game is a matter of concern. Pleasing the international players as spectators would be a pleasure.”
To publicize this athletics meet scheduled from November 10-12, sports department officials claim to put best efforts on advertising the game on electronic and print media. Banners around the city have also been displayed.
Supporting this effort Chaubey said, “To attract people we are providing free tickets for watching the athletic events. Free bus service from Jaipal Singh stadium, New Market Ratu Road, CMPDI campus Kanke road, Birsa chowk and other prominent zones will be done from November 10 to 12. Nothing more can be done if people are not interested even after learning about SAF game through our advertisements.”
According to sports lovers, the publicity lacks due to miscommunication among the organizing committee members. “The opening and closing ceremonies will showcase more on Jharkhand’s culture. How can one imagine of attracting viewers without the performance of a Bollywood celebrity,” a member of the transportation committee said.
The dope head of this championships said, “State government is spending Rs 2 crores. But, the publicity done till now is not satisfactory. Junior athletes under the age of 20 years would obviously want teenagers to cheer them as spectators.”“The present preparations no where reflect the ambience of an international sports programme,” he added.
Notably, free bus passes for the game are provided at Premsons Motors Kanke, Archies gallery of Gel Church complex and Spring City mall and louis Philip showroom Kadru. “Despite free pass provision, the response is not much. Had it been international cricket match, the response would have been vice-versa. Creating awareness is the responsibility of the state government since they are the main organiser,” Jharkhand Athletics Association (JAA) president Madhukant Pathak said.