Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to create high-quality, durable facilities for the 8th Khelo India Youth Games, which will be held in the state from December 11 to 22 across 20 venues in six cities, including Hyderabad.
Reviewing preparations on Monday, Reddy asked departments to coordinate the Games with the Invest Telangana Global Summit, scheduled from December 7 to 9. The Chief Minister said resources being mobilised for the investment summit should be used where possible for the sporting event, as sports development and investment promotion would both feature at the summit.
More than 7,000 athletes and about 2,000 coaches, support staff and officials are expected to arrive from across the country. Competitions will be held in 27 disciplines, along with one demonstration event. Officials briefed the meeting on infrastructure work at the 20 venues, while training camps for Telangana athletes are under way in several districts.
Reddy instructed officials to develop the venues to the highest standards and ensure that the infrastructure remains useful after the Games. He referred to the deterioration of sports facilities developed during the previous BRS regime and called for stringent measures to prevent a recurrence. The direction places post-event maintenance alongside the immediate requirement of completing venues for the competition.
The Chief Minister also ordered that Group-I officers monitor preparations from the initial stage until the Games conclude. Trainee and Group-I officers are to oversee arrangements at venues in different districts, with officials required to submit weekly progress reports. The state government has also been directed to provide athletes with proper food and accommodation without inconvenience.
Reddy said Telangana was seeking to become a national sports hub through its sports policy and the proposed Young India Physical Education and Sports University. He said the Games should be used to identify sporting talent and groom young athletes for international competitions, with the longer-term objective of producing Olympic medal winners.
The Chief Minister asked officials to take immediate steps to include Telangana’s traditional sport, Karra Saamu, or stick fighting, under the host state’s quota. He also directed officials to avoid unnecessary expenditure on the opening and closing ceremonies in view of El Niño conditions.
The meeting was attended by Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, Sports Authority of Telangana chairman Shiv Sena Reddy, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, Chief Minister’s Adviser K. Ramakrishna Rao, special chief secretary for sports Vani Prasad, Sports Authority managing director Sonibala Devi and other senior officials. Preparatory work and weekly monitoring are to continue ahead of the Games’ opening on December 11.
