Department yet to take final call on opening sports complexes in Chandigarh

Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 19

Though the UT Administration allowed opening of sports complexes, the UT Sports Department is in no hurry to take any further step, considering the Covid-19 outbreak.

On Monday, the Administration announced to open sports complexes, but on the condition of not organising any kind of close-proximity games (body contact disciplines).

“We will check the Administration’s orders. Before opening any of our complexes, we will work on standard operating procedures to avoid any risk,” said Tejdeep Singh Saini, Director Sports, UT.

He further added, “The close proximity disciplines will be classified and further no activity will be allowed in such centres. However, considering the fitness view, we have to streamline things. We will plan something for members who use local facilities for leisure activities.”

The department is maintaining sports complexes at Sector 46, Sector 42, Sector 7, Sector 38, Sector 39 and Mani Majra, besides Sector 17 football stadium, Lake Sports Complex, Sector 23 all-weather swimming pool, Sector 23 table tennis hall, Sector 10 skating rink, Sector 18 hockey stadium and Sector 16 cricket stadium. The sports complexes at Sector 43 and Sector 34, which were initially built for the Education Department, were also handed over to the Sports Department later on.

Hostels to stay closed

Hostels are likely to remain closed till further orders. The players of state-run football, hockey and cricket academies reside in hostels located at Sector 42 Sports Complex and at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18. Almost all trainees at these academies belong to other states. As the department is yet to take a call on the guidelines, the training of these state-run academies is likely to remain suspended.

No to swimming pools

As many eight swimming pools, under the Sports Department are not allowed to open for trainees and for general members.

Necessary steps

The department is planning to make downloading of Aarogya Setu app mandatory; training in small groups on alternative days; children to train in separate groups; bottle of sanitizer is a must; no sharing of equipment; no activity for body contact games, including wrestling, judo, taekwondo, boxing, kho-kho, kabaddi and others; different time slots for members; sanitization of building; record of phone number and address of those coming to centres; thermal screening; screening of coaches on weekly basis; entry through identity cards at centres; allowing only fitness and others mandatory steps.