Punjab Asian Hockey Champions Trophy: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has directed all departments to ensure world-class arrangements for the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy to be held from October 27 to November 5, focusing on mutual coordination, international level facilities, beautification of cities and hospitality. He also called for state level trophy tour and maximum participation of students to boost the enthusiasm of the people. He stressed that Punjab should set new records in hosting international sports events.
Chairing a high-level meeting regarding the Champions Trophy, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “It will be ensured that this prestigious international sporting event sets a new milestone in the sports history of Punjab.” He directed all the departments to work in mutual coordination and leave no stone unturned in providing world-class facilities to the participating teams, officials, spectators and visiting guests.
World-class facilities for visitors and guests
The Chief Minister said, “Punjab is known throughout the world for its rich hockey heritage and great contribution to Indian sports. We must set new records in organizing international sporting events and provide world-class facilities to the participating teams, officials, spectators and guests.”
He said that the participation of major hockey countries including India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Bangladesh and South Korea will put Punjab at the center of international sporting arena and will provide an opportunity to showcase its hospitality, infrastructure, sporting achievements and cultural traditions.
Will be played from 27 October to 5 November
The Chief Minister said that the opening ceremony of the tournament will be held in Jalandhar on October 27, while the matches will be played from October 27 to November 5. He directed all concerned departments to complete the preparations well in time and ensure that the championship is conducted in accordance with the rules and professional approach of a major international sporting event.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann directed the officials to warmly welcome every visiting delegation and provide them with a better and memorable hospitality experience during their stay. He stressed that preparations should not be limited to the stadium only, but special attention should be paid to cleanliness, beautification and public facilities in the entire city.
Necessary steps for beautification of cities
He asked the Municipal Corporations of Jalandhar and Mohali to carry out extensive cleaning drives, improve cleanliness and ensure proper maintenance of public places, so that the cities appear clean and attractive to foreign tourists. He asked officials to take necessary steps for beautification of the cities and ensure that the roads leading to stadiums and other important places are properly maintained and the roads are repaired wherever required.
Underlining the importance of hospitality, the Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure comfortable and quality accommodation for the participating teams and their support staff. He said that better arrangements should be made for accommodation, transportation, security, food and other necessary facilities, so that the players can focus on their performance.
Instructions to immediately correct any deficiency
He also directed officials to ensure smooth transportation between hotels, match venues and other scheduled locations, so as to avoid inconvenience or unnecessary delays. While conducting a comprehensive review of the arrangements, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann directed all the departments to take stock of the preparations at the ground level and immediately rectify any shortcomings.
“The success of an international tournament depends not only on the preparation of the main venue but also on the infrastructure, accessibility, cleanliness, traffic management and public facilities. Every aspect related to logistics support should be taken care of before the arrival of international delegations,” he said.
Arrangements for school-college students to watch the match
Appealing to more and more people to participate, the Chief Minister directed the officials to make arrangements for school and college students to watch the matches, so that they can watch international hockey matches and take inspiration from world-class players. He said, “Sports events of this scale will inspire the new generation to embrace sports, discipline and teamwork. Special attention should be given to provide facilities to students to watch the matches and connect the youth with the glorious hockey heritage of Punjab.”
To generate excitement among the people ahead of the championship, the Chief Minister directed the officials to outline a state-wide publicity campaign in which the tournament trophy or its model will be displayed in a specially designed SUV which will travel across Punjab. “This initiative will help in creating awareness, encourage public participation and generate enthusiasm for the international tournament among the people of different districts,” he said.
Organized efficiently and in accordance with the highest standards
He further said that a special coordination committee will be constituted to ensure smooth coordination between the government departments, tournament organizers and other concerned stakeholders, so that the championship is conducted efficiently and at the highest standards.
In the meeting, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Ravi Bhagat, Sports Secretary Varun Roojam, Information and Public Relations Department Secretary Punit Goyal and other senior officials were present.