The fourth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games began today in Gulmarg, in the Baramulla region of Jammu & Kashmir, against the backdrop of abundant snowfall over the past few days.
The Department of Youth Services and Sports and the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council are coordinating the event in conjunction with the Gulmarg Development Authority, the Tourism Department, and other relevant parties. The event will begin on February 21 and end on February 25.
Events of the Khelo India Winter Games 2024
Athletes representing different states will compete in these Winter Games. Winter sports including snowboarding, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, and snow mountaineering are among the sporting events. Ten states will compete in the ski mountaineering event, while twenty states and Union territories will compete in the alpine, nordic, and snowboarding events.
Due to a dry winter and parched circumstances in Gulmarg, the first portion of the games, which featured two ice sports events—Ice Hockey and Ice Skating—were conducted in Leh starting on February 2.
Khelo India Winter Games 2024 mascot
The Snow Leopard has been chosen as the mascot of the Khelo India Winter Games to raise awareness about wildlife protection, natural habitat preservation, and indigenous mountain development issues.
Sarmad Hafeez, the Secretary of Youth Services and Sports in Jammu and Kashmir, called a review meeting on February 18 to assess the state of the planning for the occasion. "Every effort should be made to ensure that the event is a huge success as Gurmarg has the potential to become a world-class winter sports destination," he said.
While emphasizing that the Khelo India Winter Games serve as a platform to promote the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir, Sarmad Hafeez stated, "The place has one of the finest slopes and the best quality snow," which is well known to skiers from other parts of the world.
Over 200 athletes from 13 states are expected to participate in the Winter Games as part of the central government's flagship Khelo India project. Officials anticipate that both tourism and the local economy will benefit from these games.
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