Category Archives: Winter Games 2008

Winter Games Torch to reach Gulmarg on Feb 17

The National Winter Games Torch which was flagged off from New Delhi yesterday by Suresh Kalmadi, President Indian Olympic Association, will reach Gulmarg on Feb 17 after going through many places – it reached Shimla this evening.  The torch will be flagged off from Jammu on February 15. Gul Mustafa, the only olympian from Jammu and Kashmir State is carrying the torch.

According to news in etala’at that five junior skiers of Jammu and Kashmir have qualified the selection trials conducted by Winter Games Federation of India at Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh, and they are apparently enrolled as members of future Indian Ski team.

Also, this year the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir is bringing out a commemorative souvenir titled Gulmarg, which would be released by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on 18th of this month. The brochure contains four articles on Gulmarg, Snow Rugby, Ski-Mountaineering, Ice Skating, a number of informative write ups and 50 images on Gulmarg and winter sports.

Gulmarg gears up for Vth National Winter Games

(from a write up by Mukesh Thapliyal -newstrackindia)

The picturesque surroundings of Gulmarg is alluring the snow dare-devils of the country in one of the heavenly places of this earth which is gearing up to the hilt for the fifth edition of the National Winter Games that is scheduled to be held at Gulmarg from February 18 to 22.

According to Winter Games Fedetion of India (WGFI) Secretary RK Gupta, a total of 11 States and union territories have confirmed their entries for the upcoming Games to be hosted by the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir under the aegis of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The five-day event will also witness the participation of the teams, of armed forces who had played a pivotal role in taking this sport to new horizons, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

The event will also give a fair idea to WGFI to review the strengths and weakness of their athletes for the next Olympic Winter Games, which is to be held in Vancouver (Canada) in 2010.

The Indian skiers will also get the much-needed practice for the 2010 Vancouver Games since they will be having one more competition lining up for them prior to the mega-event as India is organising the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in 2009 that is be going to held at Auli in Uttarakhand.

WGFI President, SS Pangtey, exudes huge confidence over his players as far as SAF Games are concerned. “India will brush away all the medals that will be at stake since we are much ahead form the other countries of the South Asian region,” acclaimed Pangtey.

The various states and union territories, which will be taking part in the event, include Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and host Jammu and Kashmir. The technical aspect of the games will be handled by WGFI itself.

The participants will be competing in six disciplines including alpine ski, cross country ski, ice-skating, ice hockey, snowboarding and biathlon, which involves two disciplines first a one kilometer round from the athletes in the snow with their skis on immediately followed by a target shooting competition, at the Games.

5th National Winter Games

 5th National Winter Games are being held at Gulmarg from February 17-22, 2008 (10th to 15th February?). More than 500 sportsmen and women are expected to participate in the event which includes skiing, snow boarding, ice hockey, ice skating etc.

Organizers:

J&K State Tourism Department
Winter Games Federation of India
J&K Olympic Association
Ministry for Tourism
Ministry for Sports

The famous snow leopard of Kashmir will be the mascot of the games. National Winter Games have been held in Gulmarg twice since 1998.

Winter sports machinery
“Latest and modern” winter sports machinery and ski equipment would be imported to provide better services and facilities to the participants during the games.

Other events
Alpine events at Kangdoori and Nordic events at Gulmarg Golf Course.

Media and communication
A full-fledged media centre will be set-up in the Gulmarg to give wide coverage of the event at National and International level. BSNL would lay optical fiber cable link to ensure quick information and communication with Broad Band Service for the media persons.

Electicity & Power
Power Department will keep additional requisite number of transformers stand by to meet any eventuality. Gulmarg will be supplied electricity from two sources, one from Receiving Station, Amargad, Sopore and 2nd from Receiving Station, Pattan to ensure un-interrupted power supply during the event.

Water
The PHE department will ensure round the clock water supply by improving and upgrading the existing water storage and distribution system.

Snow clearing
The Mechanical Engineering Department shall deploy permanently 4 modern snow clearance machines to ensure quick snow clearance from Tangmarg to Gulmarg roads.

Health
Health Department would ensure availability of adequate Medicare facility, diagnostic equipment and medicines at Gulmarg during the event. Additional 4 x 4 ambulances would be kept readily available at the venue.