Gulmarg set to host 2nd edition of Khelo India National Winter Games from Feb 26

No cancellation of Pre Bookings of hotels: DC Baramulla, Ready to host athletes, officials for Khelo India national Games: Hoteliers Club Gulmarg

Jammu and Kashmir government Friday said all arrangements are in place to host Khelo India winter games at the ski resort-Gulmarg starting from February 26 while as the district administration Baramulla has cancelled the earlier orders for cancellation of hotel bookings.

Officials said that all arrangements have been made for the mega sports event at Gulmarg—Khelo India National Winter games starting from 26 Feb that will end on March 2.

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Deputy Commissioner Baramulla while speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, "No new order has been issued to cancel the bookings in Gulmarg. We have not issued any order, and earlier order has been cancelled, however, it is a big event for which rooms are required for athletes and officials."

Earlier, the District Administration had issued the order, a copy of which lies with KNO, that called for cancellation of Pre Bookings to accommodate the athletes and officials participating in Khelo India national Winter Games from 26 February to March 2, at Gulmarg.

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Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle, "The games are a welcome addition to our calendar but its mindless application of government writ when the games become a reason to cancel hotel bookings & inconvenience tourists who have booked flights & made their plans well in advance."

Special Secretary to the Government for Tourism Sarmad Hafeez (IAS) told KNO that no such orders have been issued and all arrangements are in place to host the Khelo India Winter National Games at Gulmarg.

"Tourism Department is in full coordination with Hoteliers in Gulmarg and Sports council to facilitate the mega winter event, all associated stakeholders are in full enthusiasm to host the event", he said.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir while speaking to KNO said, this is the second edition of the National winter games which will be held at Gulmarg and Administration is ready to host the games and there is no scarcity of rooms at Gulmarg, concerned Departments are in full coordination with hoteliers, adequate arrangements are in place.

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In a Press release issued to the Media by Tourism Department which read, “Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir in consultation with stakeholders including District Administration Baramulla, J&K Sports Council and Hoteliers Club, Gulmarg had deliberated upon the issue in series of meetings wherein a mutually agreed formula was devised to ensure that the requisite accommodation is made available for the Khelo India participants and others without disturbing the tourists facilities.”

President Gulmarg Hoteliers Club Mukhtar Shah said: "we are thankful to Government for conducting this Mega National Winter event in Gulmarg, the fruits of which we can ripe out in coming season, as far as the order is concerned we as Hoteliers know how to accommodate the guests, officials or athletes."

"We have already reserved the rooms for athletes and officials participating in Kehlo India Winter National Games and nobody has asked us to cancel the Pre bookings", he said.

Khelo India Winter Games are the national level multidisciplinary grassroot winter games of India and are organised by the Winter Games Association of J&K under the support of J&K Sports Council and Ministry of Youth Services and Sports.

The mega National winter event includes snow skiing, snow rugby, snow ice stock, snow baseball, snow mountaineering, snow shoe, ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating.

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