National Games:

100 days to go

Thiruvananthapuram; October 22nd; 2014: Seven Districts, 31 Venues, 34 events, 12000 Athletes and Sports officials, more than 6000 facilitators. The count- down has begun for the most awaited sports event, the 35th National Games. The prestigious sports event that is hosting for the second time is only 100 days away. The curtain will go up on January 31st 2015 for this 2 week sports gala.

To be a perfect host, Kerala Government is doing an all-round infrastructure development in 7 Venue Districts. Thanks, to the conduct to the National Games, the State is getting some World class stadia. The existing ones are being renovated , giving an edge to Kerala and to the sports aspirants of the country.

As the countdown begins Stadia are getting ready at war footing. Most of the stadia are ready, in some construction works are progressing and some are getting finishing touches.

The Venues completed construction/renovation

1. Medical College Ground,

Medical College Ground under the ownership of Kozhikode Medical College is ready to host the Men’s Football competitions of the Games. The National Games Secretariat has constructed this new Stadium at a cost of Rs 15 crore. A new synthetic athletic track has been laid there which is first in the Malabar region.

2. Aquatics Complex,

The National Games Secretariat has fully renovated this Aquatics Complex for a cost of Rs 6.4 crore and made it modern. The Aquatics Complex at Pirappancode, owned by Kerala State Sports Council is all set for the events.

3. Squash Court, Thiruvananthapuram

As Kerala hosts the 2015 Games, the state is getting a Squash Court under the Public Sector. The new stadium is coming up adjacent to the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium. It is built following the norms of the World Squash Federation. The Stadium conforming to International standards has been built by National Games Secretariat at a cost of Rs. 5.50 crore, within a year and a half. 4. Sreepadam Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

Kho-Kho and Kabaddi matches of the 35th National Games are scheduled at Sreepadam Stadium, Attingal. The National Games Secretariat has built the Stadium at a cost of Rs 7.18 crore.

5. Jimmy George Indoor Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

Jimmy George Indoor Stadium, located at the Kerala Water Authority Complex, Vellayambalam is owned by the Directorate of Sports, Kerala. The renovation work of the Stadium has been completed at a cost of Rs 11.6 crore to host the Gymnastic and Hand Ball events

6. Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Ernakulam

Table Tennis and Shuttle Badminton matches will be conducted in the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor stadium, Kadavanthra. The Stadium managed by Regional Sport Centre is one of the prestigious Venues in Ernakulam district. To make it more sophisticated the NGS has renovated the Stadium at a cost of Rs 10.23 crore.

7. Thriprayar Indoor Stadium,

Indoor Stadium, owned by the Thriprayar Sports and Games Association, Thrissur is the first of its kind in a rural area. The National Games Secretariat has renovated the Stadium by laying new maple wood flooring and introducing acoustic facilities at a cost of Rs1.08 crore. Boxing matches of the 35th National Games are scheduled at this Stadium

8. VKN Menon Indoor Stadium, Thrissur

VKN Menon Indoor Stadium is owned by the District Sports Council, Thrissur. The NGS has constructed an additional three storied building and renovated the Stadium by laying new maple wood flooring, introducing advanced acoustic facilities and intense arena lighting at a cost of Rs. 7.36 crore. Weightlifting and Judo competitions will be held here

9. VKK Menon Indoor Stadium, Kozhikode

VKK Menon Indoor Stadium was renovated by laying new maple wood flooring, introducing advanced acoustic facilities, air conditioning and intense arena lighting at a cost of Rs 6.53 crore. The Stadium owned by the District Sports Council, Kozhikode will host the Volleyball matches of the Games.

10. Agriculture College Indoor Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

The Indoor stadium in the College of Agriculture, Vellayani in the city suburbs is all decked up to host Taekwondo and Netball competitions of the Games. The Kerala State Construction Corporation completed the renovation works at Rs 2.76 crore. With maple wood flooring imported from US bordering the floors, the Stadium now has a world class interiors and international sporting standards

11. Lal Bahadur Shastri Corporation Stadium,

The Rugby Sevens matches will be held at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Corporation Stadium. The renovation work of the Stadium was completed at a cost of Rs 6.89 Crores.

12. Indoor Stadium,

Indoor Stadium at Mundayad is the Kerala biggest Indoor Stadium. It is ready for the Wrestling and Basketball events of the 35th National Games completed at a cost of Rs.30 crore.

13. CIAL Golf Course, Ernakulam

The CIAL Golf Course in the Golf and Country Club, Ernakulam is the venue for the Lawn Bowl Competitions. The National Games Secretariat has created the new Lawn Bowl Court here at a cost of Rs 1.08 crore.

14. University Stadium

The most crowd pulling event, the athletic competitions of the Games will be held at the University Stadium. The Stadium owned by the Kerala University is being renovated by the NGS at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. The Stadium is also floodlit.

The Venues in final stage of construction

15. Corporation Stadium, Thrissur

Corporation Stadium also known as Palace Stadium, under the Thrissur Corporation is getting ready for the Games. The renovation work was done at a cost of Rs. 10 crore which includes a new gallery and new artificial football turf. Women’s Football matches of the 35th National Games are scheduled here.

16. Shooting Range, Vattiyoorkavu

A new Shooting Range is coming up at Central Polytechnic Campus, Vattiyoorkavu. It is being built at a cost of Rs.20 crore. The equipment for the competitions are being imported from Switzerland.

Rifle and Pistol Shooting events of the 35th National Games are scheduled here.

17. Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode Men’s football matches of the Games will be held at the Corporation Stadium also known EMS Stadium. The National Games Secretariat is renovating the Stadium by laying football turf and constructing a new gallery at a cost of Rs 21 crore.

18. Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium at Palayam is owned by Kerala Police Sports and Youth Welfare Society, Thiruvananthapuram.

The Stadium, where at present the National Games Secretariat is functioning, will be the practice ground for the athletes coming for the Games. Renovation work of the Stadium is in progress at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The Stadium will also be floodlit.

The Venues in which construction is progressing

19. The Greenfield Stadium, Karyavattom

The Greenfield Stadium, Karyavattom, the first in India to be built on the Public-Private-Partnership Model by the National Games Secretariat and IL&FS, the leading Construction Company. The Stadium is constructed to conform to International Standards in Football and Cricket prescribed by FIFA and ICC.

The Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Games will be held at this world class Stadium. The Stadium also has the facility to host various sports events like Basketball, Table Tennis, Squash, Badminton and Swimming. The work is progress at a fast pace as the dates of the events are nearing.

20. Tennis Complex, Thiruvananthapuram

A new Tennis Complex at Kumarapuram is being constructed by National Games Secretariat In relation with the Games. The Complex is coming up at a cost of Rs 2.64 crore.

21. LNCPE, Velodrome, Thiruvananthapuram

Lekshmibai National College for Physical Education at Karyavattom belongs to the Sports Authority of India (SAI).SAI is renovating the velodrome with the Nito floor finishing material at a cost of Rs 1.39 crore of which Rs. 44 Lakh will be advanced by the NGS. The renovation work is going on steadily pace. 22. Trap and Skeet Range, Thrissur

Police Academy at Ramavarmapuram is the Venue for the Trap and Skeet shooting events. A new range is being constructed by NGS at a cost of Rs. 5 crore.

23. Hockey Stadium, Kollam

The New Hockey Stadium at Ashramam, owned by Directorate of Sports, Government of Kerala, will be the First Hockey Stadium in the State with Synthetic Astroturf. The National Games Secretariat is constructing the Stadium at a cost of Rs 17.55 crore.

The Vembanad Lake, Munanabam Beach, Kozhikode Beach, Shangumukham Beach, CIAL Convention Centre, , Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi will only be decked up later,as they fall in the category of temporary outlays.

The Yachting Competitions will conducted in the Munambam Beach where as the Rowing, Canoeing and Kayaking Race will be held at Vembanad Lake. The Shangumukham is the Venue for the Beach Hand Ball competitions whereas the Kozhikode Beach is the Venue for the Beach Volleyball.

The Venue for the Fencing competitions is the CIAL Convention Centre in the Cochin International Airport, Nedumbaserry and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the Venue for the Archery Competitions.

The Games Village, Menonkulam which is being set up to house 5000 athletes, coaches and officials coming for the Games is progressing swiftly. The construction of the 365 housing units in the village is already completed. Now the beautification work is progressing. The District Organising Committee constituted by the Games Secretariat has been entrusted to organize the accommodations of the athletes flocking to the Districts. 22 Committee are working round the clock to make the Games a grand event. The opening and the closing ceremonies of the Games will be a cultural fiesta. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy and Hon’ble State Minister for Sports Shri Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has personally invited Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the inaugurate of the 35th National Games. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate this Sports extravaganza.

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