Stadiums, school playgrounds should be fully utilised: Goel

Stressing on the maximum utilisation of the various stadiums and school playgrounds across the country, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Thursday said such measures will help in unearthing young talent and developing a sporting culture in the country.

"Our ministry is trying really hard to ensure full use of the stadiums. We urge parents to send their kids to the stadiums. This practice should be followed in the whole country and not just Delhi," Goel said during an interaction with the members of the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) at his residence here.

"With more and more kids playing, we will get an increased pool of young talent and it will also encourage a sporting culture in the country.

"This will also increase the level competition and will lead to better results. We have organised the Slum Run (Slum Daud) as part of this ambitious project," he added.

Goel further said that his ministry is working towards its target and are already in talks with the relevant authorities governing the schools.

"The schools in the country are not able to fully use their playgrounds. After the regular school timings, the playgrounds are hardly used. The stadiums also do not have sports activities going on in their premises all the time."

"We are working towards our target that the stadiums and playgrounds in those schools of the MCD, DDA and NDMC are used fully so that sporting events can be organised continuously," he said.

Goel also stated that putting up LED screens at the Major Dhyanchand stadium was part of his ministry's plan to use the stadiums more and asserted that such screens should be put up in other stadiums as well.

"Permanent screens can also be put up where international sporting events can be shown," he said.

"The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has been instructed to make a list of such schools which have playgrounds but these are not being put to use. We will also ask for suggestions from people about what can be done to better utilise such playgrounds," he added.

Goel said he has instructed the sports associations and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to obtain information about the changes in rules made by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) so that the ministry can accordingly help the players in coping with the changes.

The Sports Minister also said that the Slum Daud, being organised through the ministry's ambitious project -- Slum Adoption Scheme -- was given the green signal on Wednesday to start its second phase.

The second phase of the run will be held from June 24 to 29 in various constituencies of the national capital.

--IANS

rajat/tri/dg