Face2News/Chandigarh
The first meeting of the newly constituted Standing Committee of the Administrator’s Advisory Council on Sports, U.T. Chandigarh, was held today at the Sports Complex, Sector 42, under the Chairmanship of Sh. Sanjay Tandon.
Sh. Sorabh Kumar Arora, Director Sports, Chandigarh Administration, outlined key initiatives taken by the Sports Department. He informed that the proposal for the construction of an International Level Multipurpose Hall, Olympic Standard Swimming Pool, and Girls Hostel has been initiated. The Engineering Department has floated tenders to finalize a consultant for preparing the designs, which will be opened on 18 August 2025.
The Committee was also apprised that the tender for converting the Sector 39 Swimming Pool into an All-Weather Swimming Pool has been allotted, with completion targeted by 31 October 2025. Upgradation works are underway at the Basketball Hall, Sports Complex Sector 42; Hockey Stadiums in Sector 42 and Sector 18; and sports infrastructure at Lake Sports Complex, aiming to bring them up to national standards for hosting more national-level competitions.
An online portal for cash awards to sportspersons has been developed and is scheduled for launch on National Sports Day — 29 August 2025. A dedicated Sports Policy for Specially Abled sportspersons has also been prepared and will be launched shortly.
Committee members recommended allowing sports associations to display sponsor branding free of cost within sports complexes to help them organize national and international events more effectively, as most associations rely on sponsorships for funding. The Joint Director Sports informed that a policy in this regard is under consideration and will be finalized soon. He further mentioned that the Department is working on a policy to provide employment to meritorious sportspersons in Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts.
The Committee also appreciated the newly renovated Conference Hall where the meeting was held. The Chairman suggested that Sports Associations can book the hall for meetings at charges fixed by the Department.
The meeting was attended by Sh. T.V.S.N. Prashad, IAS (Retd.), Sh. Surindra Kumar Mahajan, Sh. Shiv Singh, Sh. Sorabh Kumar Arora, PCS (Director Sports & Member Secretary), Dr. Mahender Singh (Joint Director Sports), and special invitee Sh. Gurpreet Singh Dhillon.