As many as 60 nationally acclaimed cyclists and a few from neighboring country Nepal are participating in the 300-km long Kashmir Cyclothon flagged off from the Royal Springs Golf Course Srinagar on Thursday
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta flagged off a 300 kms long Kashmir Cyclothon which would pass through five districts of Kashmir Valley.
He made out that this cyclothon will provide these cyclists an opportunity to explore the beautiful places of the valley and they would come across breathtaking locales during this 300 kms long expedition.
The participants are going to traverse through historic and tourist places like Pampore, Pulwama, Shopian, Dobjan, Kulgam, Vasaknag, Qazigund, Verinag, Daksum, Achabal, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Awantipora and reach back to Srinagar in the afternoon of 3rd day.
It was announced that the event would culminate at the end of the 3rd day and many more participants are going to be part of this event in the coming days. The participants are going to have a night halt at Aharbal and Kokernag for the second night.
On the occasion, the Chief Secretary urged the participating cyclists to be ambassadors of peace and create awareness among the public about the hazards of drug abuse.
He told the participants that any game is more significant than winning or losing the game. He advised every participant to be a champion by taking part in sports in its true spirit of the game.
Mehta said that the Jammu and Kashmir administration is targeting participation of about 35 lakh youth in different sports to be played this year. He said that sports events would be organised right from panchayat and block levels and it is expected that each person of J&K would take part in such games.
The Chief Secretary maintained that sports engages youth in a positive way and aids them in exhibiting their physical and mental potential fully.
The participants are going to be facilitated by the Tourism and YS&S Departments throughout this event. All the boarding, lodging, refreshment and food is being provided by the sponsoring departments for the successful conclusion of this mega event.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, R K Goyal, Secretary, Tourism & Youth Services & Sports, Sarmad Hafeez; Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Fazlul Haseeb; Secretary, RSGC, Mufti Fareed and other officers were present on the occasion.
UNI
