Around 35 lakh youth to participate, 15 lakh expected to participate in 45 sports disciplines under school games: Director

Srinagar: The Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K has issued the Annual Calendar of Activities for 2023-24. After due deliberations and meetings, the approved calendar of activities was circulated among the District Youth Services & Sports Officers of both the divisions through the respective Joint Directors. The calendar shall be available on the official website of the Department in order to keep track of the scheduled events across the UT. In 45 Olympic and Non-Olympic sports disciplines about 300 sports events will be organized across the Union Territory of J&K from April 2023 onwards.
Keeping in view the prospects and benefits associated with the participation of players in a recognized sport all the non recognized games have been dropped in the YSS sports calendar.
The field officers/ officials have been directed to follow all the prescribed instructions mentioned in the calendar in letter and spirit.
Under adventure sports Basic / Intermediate / Advanced Skiing Courses (both Boys and Girls) will be conducted at UT level during the winter 2023 -24. Besides participation in ski courses, other winter fun games may also be made a part of winter sports. Trekking shall be conducted by every Zone at least for 100 Boys and Girls each. The best 5 trekkers from each Zone separately for Boys and Girls shall be identified by concerned DYSSOs who shall be sent for advance trekking at UT level.
Director Youth Services & Sports J&K Subash C Chibber has said about 35 Lakh Youth shall participate in sports activities during 2023-24 however 15 Lakh youth are expected to participate in 45 sports disciplines under school games.
“Apart from conducting the domestic level competitions, the Department deploys the teams for National Level competitions being organized by the School Games Federation of India across the Country. The Department also prepare students to take part in all extracurricular activities viz; Seminars, Debates, Disaster Management Programmes, Drug De-Addiction campaigns, Fit India Movement, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Plogging Runs, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Plantation Drive, Back to Village Programmes, My Town My Pride programme and celebration of Red Letter Days as well. The Department is also on the forefront to actively participate in all the programmes of the Govt. at District/ Divisional/ UT levels in co-ordination with District/ Divisional / UT Administration,” he added.
While speaking about the future initiatives of the Department he said that Pahalgam and Sonamarg are being looked upon as the new destinations for organizing winter activities during the FY 2023-24 and our department is committed to make J&K an all season sports hub. He added that Zonal Physical education Officers have been directed to prepare calendar of activities for Zone/ District level competitions on the pattern of approved UT Level calendar, so that the teams for Inter District UT Level competitions be ready on the dates mentioned in the UT level calendar.

KR Desk