Date:12/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/12/stories/2008061252702000.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Dates finalised for Youth Games

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Finally, the much postponed National Youth Games (NYG) now has firm dates. The mega under-18 event will be held here from July 22 to 28 and an announcement to this effect was made by Amar Kumar Pandey, IPS, Commissioner of Youth Services and Sports, who is also the Secretary of the NYG Committee, at a press meet here on Wednesday.

The press meet, which followed a meeting of the organising committee of the Games, left several media men without seats. Later, Mr. Pandey apologised for the inconvenience.The Games was originally scheduled well over two years ago, but was postponed due to several factors. Later it was supposed to be conducted in May 2008, but polls in Karnataka forced the organisers to search for new dates.

Drawbacks

The new dates in July too has its drawbacks as it comes right in the midst of monsoon, but Mr. Pandey said that all adequate contingency measures would be taken in case of rains.

NYG is being conducted as a run-up to the Commonwealth Youth Games scheduled to be held at Pune in September.

About 6,000 athletes from all over the country are expected to participate in 24 disciplines. Cycling has also been included in the list of events though Bangalore does not have a velodrome.

K. Govindaraj, President, KOA, said that cycling would be conducted as a road race.

There are other glitches as well; the astro-turf at the Hockey Stadium needs a major overhaul and the synthetic tracks at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium are not in great shape.

But, Mr. Pandey said that the NYG Committee still had another 40 more days to attend to all these issues and stage the Games in a befitting manner.

Various sub-committees are being formed to ensure the smooth conduct of the Games, added K. Ananthraj, Secretary-General, KOA.

The cost of hosting the Games would be borne by the State Government and according to Mr. Gulihatti Shekar, the Minister for Textiles, Youth Services and Sports, the Karnataka Government has sanctioned Rs.12 crore for the conduct of the Games.