Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The upcoming 5th Uttarakhand State Olympic Games, scheduled from September 20 to 27, face a major financial challenge as no government budget has been allocated for the event. The entire funding for the games is dependent on donations from industrial units, particularly from those associated with the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) in Pantnagar and Sitarganj industrial estates. The organizing committee has sought voluntary contributions from these enterprises to cover the costs of food, accommodation, transportation, and event management.
Despite the lack of government support, preparations for the event are nearly complete, with the Udham Singh Nagar District Administration and the Uttarakhand Olympic Association (UOA) playing key roles. Notably, the district headquarter, Rudrapur is hosting 12 of the 33 games to be held during the event. The games are crucial in grooming athletes for the upcoming 38th National Sports Competition. In the first phase, various sports organizations have worked on team selection. The second phase, comprising the state Olympic Games, will help finalize the teams.
District Magistrate (DM) Udayraj Singh, who is also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, revealed the logistical scale of the event. “We are expecting around 6,000 players and 1,500 officials for this seven-day event. Ensuring proper accommodation, transportation, and refreshments without any government budget is a significant challenge,” Singh said.
The estimated cost for food alone is projected to be approximately Rs 49 lakh, assuming an expenditure of Rs 100 per person per day. Other major expenses include transportation, hotel accommodations, tents, electricity, lighting, and VIP arrangements, bringing the total estimated budget to around Rs 1.5 crore.
In a bid to seek financial assistance, the District Collectorate of Udham Singh Nagar has written to the Sidcul Entrepreneur Welfare Society (SEWS), appealing for voluntary support. Organizers have also sent letters to potential sponsors, requesting help with logistics, food supplies, transportation, and medals. Additionally, they have asked for assistance with setting up tents, arranging sports equipment, media coverage, and organizing both the opening and closing ceremonies.
A transport committee, headed by the Regional Transport Officer, has been formed to manage the transportation of players and officials. Around 30 buses have been arranged to shuttle participants to and from the Sports Stadium, where most of the events will take place.
For the first phase of the event, accommodation has been arranged for around 3,000 players and 300 officials. Players will be housed at locations including Pant University, the Sports Stadium, Yuva Bhawan, and five city schools. Officials will be accommodated in local hotels. Additionally, over 100 personnel have been assigned duties for managing transportation, accommodation, and reception arrangements for the participants arriving from various districts.
Surprisingly, the Uttarakhand Sports Department only learned about the event on September 10, when DM Udayraj Singh convened a meeting of officials at the Collectorate. It was then that the District Sports Officer was informed about the games. Notably, the event is being organized by the UOA instead of the state’s sports department.
DK Singh, General Secretary of the Uttaranchal Olympic Association (UOA), acknowledged the financial hurdles but remained optimistic. “The organization of the State Olympics is a joint effort between the district administration and the Olympic Association. We have not had any discussions with the state government regarding funding but we are confident that with the support of local industries and sponsors, the event will be a success”, he said.
DM Udayraj Singh conducted an inspection of the venue, ensuring that all facilities, including toilets, drinking water, lighting, and accommodation for the athletes, are ready in time. He also instructed the Executive Engineer of the Sports Department and the District Horticulture Officer to clean the grounds and prepare the buildings for the games.
“We are committed to ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place before the games begin. Our priority is to make the facilities player-friendly and ensure the comfort of all participants,” Singh added.
