Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday directed the officers concerned to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs to monitor the arrangements for the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games -2021.

The Chief Minister said the committee should monitor arrangements like accommodation, catering, transportation, ceremonies, event days and purchase of sports equipment for 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.

Khattar presided over a meeting of the Organising-cum-Coordination Committee to review the preparation of the games here. The officers of the Central Government also connected digitally in the meeting.

An elaborate presentation was given by the Director, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana, Pankaj Nain regarding the preparations being made for the Khelo India Youth Games -2021.

The Chief Minister 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 and Athletic Stadium are on the verge of completion and will be ready by December.

Khattar 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. It was also informed 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.

Khattar directed the Sports Department officers to give the responsibility to monitor sports to the District Sports and Youth Affairs Officers (DSOs) and to further augment sports infrastructure and explore the possibilities of setting up an Engineering wing in Sports Department in the near future.

It was also informed 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.