6th Edition of Khelo India Youth Games

• 31 Jan 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The 6^th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) is currently underway, happening from 19th January to 31st January 2024, across four cities in Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore.

What is the Khelo India Youth Games?

• About: KIYG is a national-level, multi-disciplinary sports competition for school and college students in India.
  • The games are held annually in January or February and are part of the government's Khelo India initiative.
  • It aims to promote sports culture and identify sporting talent at the grassroots level.
  • The previous 5 editions of the Youth Games have been held in Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula and Bhopal.
• Format: It is held in two categories, namely under-17-year-old school students and under-21 college students.
  • It operates in a team championship format, wherein the medals earned by individual athletes or teams contribute to the overall medal tally of their respective state or Union Territory (UT).
  • Upon the event's conclusion, the state or UT securing the highest count of gold medals is declared the winner.
  • No other team barring Maharashtra and Haryana have won the KIYG title to date.
• 6^th edition of KIYG: A total of 933 medals (278 gold, 278 silver and 377 bronze) are up for grabs across 26 sports at KIYG, Tamil Nadu.
  • Squash is making its KIYG debut this year, while Silambam, a form of indigenous martial arts, is featured as a demonstration sport.
  • Mascot: Veera Mangai.
    • Rani Velu Nachiyar, fondly called Veera Mangai, was an Indian queen who waged a war against British colonial rule.
    • Also, the logo for the games incorporates the figure of poet Thiruvalluvar.

Note

The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 will take place in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. The recently unveiled mascot, a Snow Leopard named 'Sheen-e She' or Shan, adds a unique touch to the event.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000: (2021)

1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
2. The award was received mostly by ‘Formula One’ players so far.
3. Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: C

• The Laureus World Sports Awards is the premier global sporting awards. First held in 2000, the annual event honours the greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs of the year and showcases the work of Laureus Sport for Good.
• American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
  • Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The award has been received mostly by Men’s Football Team (6 times) players so far.
  • Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Roger Federer (5 times) has received this award, the maximum number of times compared to others followed by Usain Bolt (4 times) and Novak Djokovic (4 times).
  • Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics: (2021)

1. The official motto for this Olympics is ‘A New World’.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

• The Games of the 32nd Summer Olympiad (Tokyo 2020) were held from 23 July to 8 August 2021. The Olympics have been held every four years since 1948.
• However, Tokyo Olympic 2020 was not held after four years as it was postponed for 2021, because of Covid pandemic.
• The official motto for Olympics 2020 was “United by Emotion”. The motto emphasised the power of sport to bring together people from diverse backgrounds of every kind and allow them to connect and celebrate in a way that reaches beyond their differences. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• A total of 46 Olympic Sports were contested at the Tokyo 2020 Games including Rugby, Sport Climbing, Fencing, Football, Skateboarding, Handball, Surfing, Karate, Baseball, among others. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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Mains:

Q. An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement. (2014)