U’khand Olympic Games relying on donations from lack of govt funds

Rudrapur: Organisers of the fifth Uttarakhand Olympic Games are seeking donations from local industries and sponsors as they face a financial crisis due to a lack of govt funding. The event, scheduled to be held from Friday to Sept 27, is expected to cost over Rs 1.5 crore.
Sources said the food expenses alone will amount to around Rs 49 lakh, assuming an expenditure of Rs 100 per person per day.Other major expenses would include transportation, accommodation, tents, electricity, lighting, and VIP arrangements.
Despite the financial challenges, preparations are nearly complete, with Rudrapur set to host 12 of the 33 games. The event is crucial for selecting athletes for the 38th National Games and has now entered its second phase following team selections by various sports organisations.
Udham Singh Nagar's district magistrate (DM) Udayraj Singh, who chairs the organising committee, said, "We are expecting around 6,000 players and 1,500 officials over the course of seven days. Organising the games without any govt funding is a daunting task, but we are committed to ensuring its success."
To bridge the funding gap, the Udham Singh Nagar district collectorate has reached out to Sidcul Entrepreneur Welfare Society (SEWS) and other potential sponsors, seeking contributions for logistics, food, transportation, tents, and sports equipment. The organising committee has also requested support for media coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies.
DK Singh, general secretary of the Uttarakhand Olympic Association (UOA), commented on the challenges saying, "While funding has been a significant issue, we believe that with the support of local industries and sponsors, the event will be successful. This is a collaborative effort between the district administration and the Olympic Association."
A transport committee, led by the regional transport officer, has been formed to manage transportation for the players. Approximately 30 buses have been arranged to shuttle players and officials between their accommodations and the Manoj Sarkar Sports Stadium in Rudrapur, the primary venue. Accommodations for around 3,000 players have been secured at Pant University, the stadium, Yuva Bhawan, and five local schools, while 300 officials will be staying at hotels.
The DM has inspected the venue to ensure all facilities, including toilets, drinking water, lighting, and accommodation, are player-friendly. "Our priority is to provide comfortable arrangements for all participants and ensure the games run smoothly," Singh added.
The games are organised by Uttarakhand Olympic Association (UOA) and had previously been managed by the state's sports department. The Udham Singh Nagar sports department only learned about the games on Sept 10 when the DM held a meeting to discuss it.