PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The sports legacy plan in Uttarakhand is currently in development and will be introduced soon, according to the special principal secretary of sports Amit Sinha. Notably, the government has decided to establish this plan to preserve and utilise the facilities from the 38th National Games.
The plan is designed primarily to maintain the infrastructure created for the National Games while promoting a strong sports culture in Uttarakhand. As part of this effort, 23 sports academies will be set up across the state in areas such as Dehradun, Tehri, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar. These academies will recruit coaches of national and international standards, as well as professionals in sports science, physiotherapy, psychology and other relevant fields. They will offer year-round training for athletes and will host competitions at both national and international levels.
Regarding the status of the Sports Legacy Plan, Sinha said that a recent meeting took place where a presentation was present before the chief secretary. Following this meeting, work on the processes and documentation related to the sports legacy plan has commenced. In straightforward terms, the sports legacy plan is currently in the pipeline (development) and will soon be implemented effectively in the State.
It is pertinent to note that officials previously informed that the minutes from a recent meeting have been distributed by the relevant authorities, detailing the elements to be included in the comprehensive project or proposal for the sports legacy plan. According to the officials, these minutes reveal that the initial directive supports the creation of a Sports Authority of the University (SAU) under the sports legacy proposal. This establishment is anticipated to enhance the efficient functioning of the sports academies that will be developed as part of the legacy plan.
They also said that another key aspect of the proposal is to investigate Public Private Partnerships (PPP), which would involve private entities and government organisations, such as ONGC and THDC, in running the sports equipment and infrastructure.
