Chandigarh, November 22 - Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has directed to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs to monitor the arrangements regarding accommodation, catering, transportation, ceremonies, event days and purchase of Sports equipment for the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games -2021, which the State will be hosting between February 5 to February 14, 2022 in Panchkula, Ambala, Shahabad, Chandigarh and Delhi in 25 Sporting Disciplines.

This decision was taken during the second meeting of the Organizing-cum-Coordination Committee to review the preparation of Khelo India Youth Games-2021 under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal. Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sh. Sandeep Singh was also present in the meeting. The  officers of Government of India also connected digitally in the meeting.

An elaborate presentation was given by the Director, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana, Sh. Pankaj Nain regarding the preparations being made for the Khelo India Youth Games -2021. The Chief Minister has also directed the officers concerned to further strengthen and streamline Sports infrastructure. He was apprised in the meeting that the developmental works of various Sports Complexes, Hockey Stadium and Badminton Hall, Auditorium & Athletic Stadium are on the verge of completion and will be ready by December. The Chief Minister was also apprised that the cycling event in the Khelo India Youth Games -2021 will be held on the road between Panchkula to Yamunanagar. The officers informed the Chief Minister that a weekly review of the preparations is being done. The Chief Minister will also be inspecting the venues being prepared for the event. Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal was further apprised that the mascot for the event, ‘Dhakad’ and the theme song are ready. The dates for the launch ceremony and promotion ceremony will soon be decided.

The Chief Minister also directed the sports department officers to give the responsibility to monitor Sports to the District Sports & Youth Affairs Officers (DSOs) and to further augment Sports Infrastructure and explore the possibilities of setting up Engineering Wing in Sports Department in the near future. He was apprised during the meeting that 10 sports complexes will be handed over by HSVP to the Sports Department from January 1, 2022. The annual maintenance of these stadiums will be done by the Sports Department.

Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. D.S. Dhesi, Chief Secretary, Sh. Vijai Vardhan, Additional Chief Secretary, Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Disaster Management and Consolidation Department, Sh. Sajeev Kaushal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashakar, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (B&R) and Architecture Department, Sh. Alok Nigam, Additional Chief Secretary, Development & Panchayats Department, Sh. Amit Jha, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Planning Departments, Sh. T.V.S.N Prasad, Principal Secretary, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Sh. A.K. Singh, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Smt. Ashima Brar and other senior officials were present in the meeting.