Srinagar, Dec 17: After hosting the first four editions successfully, the world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg is getting ready to host the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games from February 22 to 25.
A statement said that the 5th edition of the games would be directly conducted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in association with Olympic Ad Hoc Committee for Ski and Snowboard India and Winter Games Association of Jammu & Kashmir with active support from J&K Government. Like previous years, this time too, Gulmarg has been assigned to host alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing and ski mountaineering competitions while as Ladakh would be hosting ice-related events of Ice Skating and Ice Hockey. The games have been divided into two parts with the aim to turn into a professional competition with better and smooth facilities for all the participants.
President Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir (WGAJK), Rauf Tramboo has been nominated as member of GTCC technical committee and assigned as Competition Manager for all alpine skiing competitions.
Rauf Tramboo said, “We are highly thankful to Ministry of Sports Government of India and Sports Authority of India for giving their full support to the Olympic Ad Hoc Committee for Ski and Snowboard India and WGAJK. It is historic moment as the Sports Ministry GOI and SAI have taken full control of Winter Sports from last winter season and in coming times, the KIWG event is going to be played with larger participation of atheletes”.
“By taking Khelo India Winter Games under its wings, the Sports Ministry has shown its commitment in the promotion of winter sports. It is going to give a major boost to the winter sports in Country and is going to attract more and more youth towards the sport,” Rauf Tramboo said.
Tramboo said, that apart from its sports angle, Khelo India Winter Games will also bring into focus Winter Tourism sector of Kashmir.
“Government of India specifically has given hosting rights of Khelo India Winter Games to Kashmir with the aim to give major flip to winter and adventure tourism. With athletes from all over India coming to Kashmir for the Khelo India Winter Games, the event is going to act as a winter sports and tourism promotion in coming years.,” he said.
