Winter games begin in Gulmarg; Omar pitches for artificial snow

SRINAGAR: J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday inaugurated the 6th edition of Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg.

“Khelo India Winter Games revive the sporting spirit’s ideals of peace, equality, and camaraderie. In our vibrant, diverse nation of myriad languages, cultures, and traditions, the Winter Games at Gulmarg serve as a universal language and shared heritage," Sinha said.

The four-day event at Gulmarg will witness the participation of around 1,000 athletes and officials from various states and UTs.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, CM Omar Abdullah reiterated his desire to develop Gulmarg into an international ski destination.

“A few weeks ago, we witnessed intense cold here. We had no idea that when the games begin, it would be so warm that skiing would become challenging. We may have to make some adjustments,” Omar said.

“In the last few days, we were watching the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. I congratulate India’s skier, our own Arif Khan, who proudly waved the national flag and represented the country. I hope that from this edition of Khelo India Winter Games, a new Arif Khan will emerge,” he said.

As Kashmir is experiencing its hottest February, with the maximum temperature reaching 21 degrees Celsius on Feb 21, the CM said challenges posed by climate variability are visible. “The truth is we cannot rely solely on nature. We decide the dates for the games at the beginning of the year without knowing when snowfall would occur or how much. I request the organizers not to fix dates in advance. Let us decide to hold the games 10 to 15 days after sufficient snowfall,” he said.

Omar also called for investment in artificial snow generation systems. “Time has come for us to move towards artificial snow generation. I understand concerns about water and electricity usage, but if we do not create this infrastructure, a day may come when we will not even be able to ski in Gulmarg, and that would be truly unfortunate,” he said.

“People associated with tourism like sledge operators, ski guides, ski instructors, ATV drivers, all make their living from this snow. It is our duty to provide the means and infrastructure that promote tourism and ensure its sustenance,” the CM said.

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