JAMMU, FEBRUARY 13: Advisor to Lt. Governor Farooq Khan convened a meeting regarding conduct of Khelo India Winter Games, J&K scheduled to be held from 7th to 11th March at Gulmarg and to review preparedness thereof.

Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary, Tourism and Culture Zubair Ahmad, MD JKTDC, MD J&K Cable Car Corporation, Director General Youth Services and Sports, besides officers from Security, Traffic, Information, Hospitality and Protocol, JKSRTC, JMC, Tourism, J&K Sports Council, J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages were present in the meeting.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, S.S.P, Baramulla, President Winter Games Association of J&K besides concerned officers from SMC, Tourism, RTO, Indian Institute of Ski and Mountaineering, Gulmarg attended the meeting through video conferencing.

During the meeting, threadbare discussions were held on various arrangements to be made for smooth conduct of Khelo India Winter Games including arrangements of Ski equipments and lifts, maintenance of slopes, branding for promotion of event at tourists spots, setting up of facilitation centre at Srinagar Airport, TRC and Jammu Tawi Railway Station, cleanliness and lighting of hotels, competition arena, road clearance from Tangmarg to Gulmarg, cable car service for the participants, nomination of coordinators and liaison officers and others.

The meeting also discussed security arrangements, traffic management and parking facilities, display of hoarding and banners at prominent places, publicity and coverage of the event.

Addressing the meeting, the Advisor said that for hiring of equipments, other things necessary for the conduct of games, the first preference should be given to local vendors. He directed for disaster management preparations to be put in place and that relief and rescue teams to be placed at appropriate places. He directed for joint control rooms to be made functional at prominent central locations.

The Advisor said that this is not just a sports event but an opportunity to showcase Jammu and Kashmir and its various attributes.

He further said that the participants from all across the country should go back as brand ambassadors for the UT. He directed the concerned departments to setup live demonstration stalls displaying local craftsmanship for handcraft, handloom, textile etc, besides setting up sale counters for local crafts.

It was also decided in the meeting that cultural evenings, food festival would be made regular features during the course of winter games with Gulmarg club be setup as the epicenter for various activities.

The Advisor laid special focus on ensuring availability of appropriate medicare facilities, ambulances, orthopaedics, other specialists for players and visitors.

The Secretary asked the concerned to constitute committees for putting in places arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event including boarding, lodging and transport facilities for the guests and players, besides publicity of the event.

The Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) was directed to liaise with the visiting national and local media persons for wide publicity of the event besides organising cultural programmes throughout the event which would be an added attraction for the participants.

He directed the Tourism Department authorities to ensure wide publicity of the event in road shows which are currently going on across the country.

The meeting decided that hoardings at airports and other prominent places will be displayed for wide publicity of the event.

It was given out that there will be 30 events under four disciplines including snowboarding, snow skiing, cross country and snow show in which players from across the India would participate. While on the side-lines, snow cycling and other games will be held for the local children.