PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
To build a robust sports ecosystem, a sports legacy plan is being developed in Uttarakhand. The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently announced that the execution of the sports legacy plan would start soon in the State.
While providing an update on the status of the legacy plan, the officials cited the successful conduct of the National Games recently held in Uttarakhand. They ascribed the smooth and successful conduct of the games to significant investments made in money, manpower and infrastructure.
Now these must be maintained for the present and future generations to use and this is the objective which led to the envisaging of the sports legacy plan. This will be the fulcrum on which a comprehensive sports ecosystem will be built in Uttarakhand.
They further said that a team has been formed with the special principal Sports secretary as its head to spearhead the sports legacy plan. The team prepared a proposal which was later presented to the CM. Following review, CM directed the constitution of a committee of secretaries which would further review the proposal and after it was okayed by the chief secretary it would be submitted to him again. The team is currently engaged in developing a detailed proposal to be presented to the secretaries’ committee.
Under the sports legacy plan, 23 sports academies will be established across the State, including those in Dehradun, New Tehri, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar. Coaches of national and international stature will be selected to look after these academies. Along with coaches, sports science experts, physiotherapists, psychologists and other relevant professionals will be employed. The academies will provide year-round training to the sports-inclined children aside from organising competitions at both national and international levels.
The officials further said that the sports legacy plan aims at enhancing the capabilities of Uttarakhand-based players in preparation for the upcoming 2036 Olympics and National Games among other competitions.
