KCR aspires to host Olympics in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 6 (INN): Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday said that the Telangana Government would develop an excellent Sports City around Hyderabad shortly. He desired that the design and development of the sports city should be done by using native local Telangana talent.

A group of badminton players and their Coach who participated in the Common Wealth Games, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Gutta Jwala, Kashyap, Gurusai and Shooting Player Gagan Narang as well as Gymnastic player Aruna Reddy called on the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister said that the proposed sports city would be in a position to conduct once in two months some National level or International level or Inter State level sports or games events and ultimately, one day, the Olympics to be hosted.

KCR said that Hyderabad has lot of scope to host several sports and games and asked the sports Secretary to come with some good ideas in this regard. He said while making use of the existing facilities and the stadiums the new avenues are to be developed. He also said that when no events take place in the sports city training programmes should be organized.

The Chief Minister has agreed to a suggestion to allot the existing stadiums to talented sports persons to develop academies. He desired to have a detailed broad based meeting with all concerned to discuss as to how to go about the proposed sports city and also on the Sports Policy. He said that people else where in the country should think of Hyderabad as a best place for developing their talent.

The Chief Minister has announced Rs. 50 lakh for the players who won Gold Medal for the country in the Common Wealth, Rs. 25 lakh for Silver Medalists, Rs. 15 Lakh for the Bronze Medalists and Rs. 3 lakh to all the participants. The Chief Minister has also announced an award of Rs. 50 lakhs each on par with Gold Medal winners to the coaches Pullela Gopichand and Arifuddin.

KCR wants to write to the Government of India seeking IT exemption on these awards. Along with the presentation of cash awards the players will be felicitated on August 15th on the occasion of Independence day celebrations.

The Chief Minister requested all the sports persons who met him to participate in the Government Promotional activities including the Comprehensive Household Survey all over State scheduled on19th August. He asked them to involve keenly in these programmes.

Panchayat Raj Minister KT. Rama Rao, Advisors to Govt KV Ramanachary, Papa Rao, Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma, Prl.Secy. to CM S Narsing Rao, Secretary Sports Luv Agarwal were present in the meeting.