Bengaluru, April 24 (Agency) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday declared open the second edition of Khelo India University Games here at Sree Kanteerava Stadium. A star-studded line-up of past and present athletes, who have brought glory to the nation, are gracing the opening ceremony of the Games. Over 2,500 attendees including delegates from across the country assembled at the Stadium. The event is being hosted by Jain University with unparalleled support from Karnataka Government and Sports Authority of India. Through the Khelo India University Games 2021, the Karnataka Government is focusing on a pressing issue – environmental sustainability.
Everything used in the Games outside the field of play is being made with reusable material. Electric vehicles is being used to transport athletes and all waste is being segregated as wet and dry at the source in every venue. KIUG 2021 is a Green Games. About 3879 competitors from 200-plus universities will be in action across 20 different disciplines including indigenous sports like Mallakhamba and Yogasana. The Kanteerava Stadium Complex will host Athletics and Basketball, while Shooting will be held in the SAI Campus and Hockey competitions at the Cariappa Stadium. All others events will be in the Jain educational institution premises. Over 8000 participants, coaches and officials taking part in the KIUG 2021 have access to first-of-its-kind mobile app for any information related to the competition.
The one-stop app will have information about accommodation, food, transport service, emergency contacts, maps to reach various venues and important notifications about the Games among other details. Apart from all the ministers from Union Government and the state, several top athletes including Prakash Padukone, Pankaj Advani, Anju Bobby George, Ashwini Nachappa, Reet Abraham among many others who have brought laurels for Karnataka and India at the international level attended the ceremony. Karnataka government has made special arrangements for the participants of the Khelo India University Games 2021, allowing the athletes to carry their sporting equipment on the Bengaluru metro when they travel from their accommodation to their respective competition venues. The participants will enter the KIUG environment right from the time they step out of the railway and bus stations as the Khelo India University Games 2021 advertisement boards will be waiting to welcome them. Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Union Minister Of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur, were guests of honours.