Khelo India University Games, 2023

 

Latest context

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, recently inaugurated the 3rd edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Highlights of KIU Games 2023

• The mascot of event: Jitu, which represents a Swamp Deer a.k.a Barasingha. It is also the state animal of Uttar Pradesh.
• History of the games: The first edition of the games was held in Odisha in 2020. The second edition was organised in Bangalore, Karnataka in 2022.
• Participation: The games are expected to see the participation of over 4700+ athletes coming from around 200 Universities. Competitions to take place in 21 sports.
• Venue: the games will take place in various cities including Gautam Buddha Nagar, Varanasi, Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
• Significance: This interaction will help in promoting the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shretha Bharat” and will also help in fostering a sense of unity among the participants.

About the Khelo India Programme

• In 2017, the Indian government introduced Khelo India, which means 'Let's play India', to rejuvenate the country's sporting culture through the active involvement of children at the grassroots level.
• This initiative also emphasized the development of improved sports infrastructure and academies throughout the nation, catering to diverse sports.
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is responsible for the implementation of this program.

Competitions Under Khelo India:

• Khelo India University Games (KIUG)
• Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)
• Khelo India Winter Games

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GAMES

Helps in Revival of Traditional Sports:

• Khelo India has been instrumental in revitalizing the honor and significance of traditional sports in India.
• The government has introduced scholarships to support and motivate indigenous sports like Gatka, Mallakhamb, Thang-ta, Kalaripayattu, and Yogasan.
• This program has effectively safeguarded and promoted these traditional sports, ensuring their popularity among the younger generation.

Promotion of Sports in Education

• Khelo India is in accordance with the National Educational Policy 2020, which suggests integrating sports as a subject into the curriculum.
• Additionally, the establishment of the country's inaugural National Sports University will provide further reinforcement to this objective.

Promoting Women Participation

• Khelo India has made notable strides in encouraging women's engagement in sports through initiatives such as the Khelo India Women's League.
• Conducted across multiple cities, this league has seen the enthusiastic participation of around 23,000 female athletes.

Creation of Sports infrastructure

• Khelo India also extends its support to the creation of cutting-edge sports facilities throughout India known as Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE).
• These centres are designed to offer fundamental facilities to athletes with promising potential and focus on three sporting disciplines each.

Some of the KISCEs are

• Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal
• Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl, Mizoram
• Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar

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