Sports academies to ensure stadiums’ utility post-CWG: Dikshit

NEW DELHI - Replying to demands to set up a sports body in Delhi to ensure stadiums are utilised after the Commonwealth Games, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday said she would prefer formation of sports academies to look after better utilisation of infrastructure and announced a committee to look into the issue.

Dikshit, speaking in the Delhi Assembly, said she preferred setting up of sports academies instead of a Sports Authority of Delhi as demanded by legislators, adding that the Sports Authority of India had done a “great job”.

Earlier, during a discussion on the Commonwealth Games, legislators Anil Bhardwaj, Subhas Chopra and Shoaib Iqbal had asked for setting Sports Authority of Delhi, saying the youth of the city should be given a chance to excel in sports of their choice.

The chief minister later announced that the committee will be led by Education and Sports Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and three-four MLAs will be there in it.

She said Delhi stadiums - Thyagaraja (netball), Chhatrasal (track and field training), Talkatora (boxing) and Ludlow Castle (wrestling training) - which were renovated ahead of the Oct 3-14 Games are world class and will be utilised.

“These stadiums are world class but if they are not utilised, it will be a waste of money,” she added.

She also noted that the Commonwealth Games was a huge success and Delhi was ready to host any big international event, be it Asian Games or the Olympics.