The State Government has decided to take the first step for hosting the 2nd Junior South Asian Federation (SAF) Athletics Championship. Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Geetashree Oraon will visit the Mega Sports Complex at Khelgaon on August 14 to inspect the preparedness.
“Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Jitendra Singh is interested in hosting the game here. We too support his point of view. After my visit to Khelgaon on Wednesday morning, I will send a status report to the concerned Ministry for sanctioning us the final approval of hosting this mega sports event at the earliest,” Oraon told The Pioneer.
A PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) displaying Junior SAF games details by Jharkhand Athletics Association (JAA) officials was shown to Oraon on Saturday.Oraon is sure that the State Government will get the green signal from the Central Government. The JAA has submitted a proposal in this regard to the State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Department on July 15 in pursuance of the decision of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) at Pune on July 8.
The inspection would basically focus on the stadium situation which is in need of minor repairing. JAA officials felt the urgent renovation of entrance and exit points of the Khelgaon sports hub.On August 7, during the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championship 2013 at Moscow, CK Valson of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) informed JAA president Madhukant Pathak that IAAF has fixed September 28 and 29 as the scheduled dates for 2nd Junior SAF Athletics Championship.
The 1st Junior South Asian Federation (SAF) Athletics Championship was held at Colombo (Sri lanka) in 2007 wherein around five countries participated with 302 athletes and technical staffs of which 38 Indian contingents bagged 45 medals.Pathak said, “As per IAAF norms, such SAF games must be held at the interval of two years. In 2009, Chennai was marked as host but it failed to get the initiative as the Central Government sports authorities had to conduct Commonwealth Games at New Delhi in 2010.”
The presentation shown to Oraon explained State's branding benefit across the Asian continent. Around eight Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Sri lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal comprising 500 athletes with 200 technical delegates are supposed to participate in this event.
"We have planned to do the opening and closing of the tournament with no Bollywood touch. 60 per cent of the cultural programmes will depict Jharkhand's culture whereas remaining 40 per cent will have the touch of neighbouring States," added Pathak.The JAA has suggested four options to the State Government on the mutual management of this game. The first option comprises financial assistance by the Government and technical organisation by JAA. Other options involve the State Government providing the grant and JAA working as the organiser.
Pathak has requested Oraon to make the accommodation arrangements of the SAF players and staff at Khelgaon itself instead of locating different hotels of the State capital."Considering security of the foreign players, Rs 2-crore budget fixed for this sports event and transportation facilities it would be better to make arrangements at Khelgaon itself. Official records say there are 150 flats at Khelgaon used during 34th National Games which are vacant and can be used for SAF." Pathak said.