Guwahati(Assam) Jan 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will skip the inauguration of the 3rd Khelo India Youth Games 2020 here on Jan 10 as BJP Assam unit is yet to receive confirmation about his programme.
An invitation was sent to the PMO to invite Modi to inaugurate the Khelo India Youth Games but no confirmation on it has been received, BJP state unit spokesman Rupam Goswami told PTI on Wednesday.
“There is no talk about the prime minister coming to Guwahati to inaugurate Khelo India. Sending an invitation to the PM is a formality. We have not received any confirmation from the PMO to our invitation,” he said when asked whether Modi has cancelled his visit to Assam, which is witnessing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.
Various organisations in the state have threatened to intensify their stir if the prime minister came for the inaugural ceremony.
There is speculation in the media whether Modi would come to Guwahati to inaugurate the Youth Games and had cancelled his visit due to the ongoing protests against the CAA.
Meanwhile,countdown has begun for the third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, scheduled to be held here from January 10-22. The opening ceremony, which will be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Jan 10, will witness the presence of Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal and the Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju, along with a host of star athletes, among them is Assam’s pride Hima Das.
Talking about third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal said, “We are extremely delighted to host the third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games. The competition has started a sporting revolution in India and we couldn’t be more proud of the fact that the tournament is being held in Assam. I wish the athletes all the very best,”. Shri Kiren Rijiju said that the Khelo India Youth Games has certainly inspired the youth of this country to take up sports. He also stated that the third edition of the competition will have a huge impact on the youth of the North East, who can witness a competition of international standards.
Around 6,800 athletes across 37 (states and union territories) teams will compete in a total of 20 sports events, including new additions – lawn bowls and cycling, in eight venues across Guwahati, during the competition. The total strength of participation at the games is 10,000 people, including athletes, officials, volunteers and support staff.
The Opening Ceremony scheduled on Jan, 10 will be a world class affair, with a larger-than-life show featuring 400+ cast members, 400+ technical and support staff working on ground. A state-of-the-art show created with the innovative use of lighting and technology, will be the centerpiece of the Opening Ceremony. Special acts have been devised to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural wealth of Assam along with heroes of the state. Performances by ethnic communities from across Assam, is also part of the grand show. An act to champion the Fit India movement, encouraging all Indians to integrate fitness into their daily routine, is also an important aspect of the show.
The third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games has seen several first time initiatives by the government, including having aircrafts dedicated to ferry athlete from Kolkata and Delhi to Guwahati and a go-green programme that will see electric cars at the venues. Besides the Khelo India scholarships that winners of the tournament will get, the Assam Government has also announced cash awards for the winners.
The host state is fully geared up to conduct the multi -sport event with world class infrastructure in place and equipment for games shipped in from all over the world.
A dedicated hospitality team has been put in place to ensure the best sporting experience for athletes and officials from various states, with over 100 hotels booked in the city, dedicated welcome desks set up at railway stations, bus terminals and airports. (PIB)
