Gulmarg set to host first ever mega event-Khelo India national Winter Games from Feb 26

Srinagar, Feb 12: Jammu and Kashmir government Friday said all arrangements are in place to host Khelo India winter games at the ski resort-Gulmarg starting from February 26 while as the district administration Baramulla has cancelled the earlier orders for cancellation of hotel bookings.

Officials said that all arrangements have been made for the mega sports event at Gulmarg—Khelo India National Winter games starting from 26 Feb that will end on  March 2.

Deputy Commissioner Baramulla while speaking to news agency Kashmir News Observer said, ” No new order has been issued to cancel the bookings in Gulmarg. We have not issued any order, and earlier order has been cancelled, however, it is a big event for which rooms are required for athletes and officials.”

Earlier, the District Administration had issued the order, a  copy of which lies with KNO, that called for cancellation of Pre Bookings to accommodate the athletes and officials participating in Khelo India national Winter Games from 26 February to March 2, at Gulmarg.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle , “The games are a welcome addition to our calendar but its mindless application of government writ when the games become a reason to cancel hotel bookings & inconvenience tourists who have booked flights & made their plans well in advance.”

Special  Secretary to the Government for Tourism Sarmad Hafeez (IAS) told KNO that no such orders have been issued and all arrangements are in place to host the Khelo India Winter National Games at Gulmarg.

“Tourism Department is in full coordination with Hoteliers in Gulmarg and Sports council to facilitate the mega winter event, all associated stake holders are in full enthusiasm to host the event”, he said.

President Gulmarg Hoteliers Club Mukthar Shah said: “we are thankful to Government for conducting this Mega National Winter event in Gulmarg, the fruits of which we can ripe out in coming season, as far as the order is concerned we as Hoteliers know how to accommodate the guests, officials or athletes.”

“We have already reserved the rooms for athletes and officials participating in Kehlo India Winter National Games and nobody has asked us to cancel the Pre bookings”, he said.

Khelo India Winter Games are the national level multidisciplinary grassroot winter games of India and is  organised by the Winter Games Association of J&K under the support of J&K Sports Council and Ministry of Youth Services and Sports.

The mega National winter event includes snow skiing, snow rugby, snow ice stock, snow baseball, snow mountaineering, snow shoe, ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating. (KNO)