CM inaugurated the Chhattisgarh Olympics by Flagging off the Cart Race

• 18 Jul 2023

Why in News?

On 17 July 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the Chhattisgarh Olympics by flagging off the Gedi race on the occasion of 'Hareli Parv' at Gram Panchayat Nawagaon in Raipur.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the mascot of Chhattisgarh Olympics 'Bachru' during the 'Hareli' program organized at Chief Minister's residence in Raipur. Wearing the number 36 jersey and Sohai garland around his neck, Bachru has become the identity of Chhattisgarh Olympics as well as displaying Chhattisgarh culture.
• Significantly, this is the second year of Chhattisgarhi Olympics being organized and keeping in view its popularity, for the first time this year sports like rope jumping and wrestling have also been included in it. This time the Chhattisgarh Olympics will be held in 6 phases with 16 traditional events.
• More than 30 lakh women and men participants in three different age groups will take part in the Chhattisgarh Olympics and showcase their talent.
• Traditional sports competitions of Chhattisgarh will be held in two categories, team and single. Sports disciplines like Gilli Danda, Pittool, Sankhali, Langdi Run, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Tug of War and Banti (Kancha) have been included in the team category in Chhattisgarh Olympics. And the sports of single category include Billas, Fugdi, Cart Race, Bhanwara, 100 meter race, long jump, rope jump and wrestling.
• Chhattisgarh Olympics was first organized in rural and urban areas at the Rajiv Yuva Mitan club level competition started from July 17, which will continue till July 22 with knockout method.
• And the second level is the zone, in which 8 Rajiv Yuva Mitan Clubs will be merged to form one club. It will be organized from July 26 to July 31. The development block and urban cluster level will be organized from August 7 to August 21.
• The district level event will be held from 25 August to 04 September. The divisional level competition will be held from 10th September to 20th September and finally the state level sports competitions will be held from 25th September to 27th September.
• The age group is divided into three categories in the Chhattisgarh Olympics. In this, the first category will include participants till the age of 18 years, the second category till the age limit of 18-40 years and the third category will include participants above 40 years of age. Participants in both male and female categories will be able to participate in this competition.
• Certificates and prize money will be given to the winning participants at the block and urban cluster level to the winning participants at the state level in the Chhattisgarh Olympics. The winning players coming first at the development block and urban cluster level will be given Rs 1000, Rs 750 for the second place and Rs 500 for the third place and certificates.
• Similarly, at the district level, the winning participants will be given an amount of Rs 2000, Rs 1500 for the second and Rs 1000 for the third place, along with certificates.
• At the divisional level, the winning contestants will be given Rs 3000 for coming first, Rs 2500 for second and Rs 2000 and certificates for third place players.
• In the final event of Olympics at the state level, Rs 5000 will be given to the participants coming first, Rs 4500 for second and Rs 4000 for third place players and certificates.
• It is known that in the last Olympics, unprecedented enthusiasm was seen in the entire state. From children to elders, women and children participated enthusiastically in this competition. A good atmosphere was created in every village towards traditional sports.
• It is noteworthy that the first Tihar (festival) of Chhattisgarh associated with folk culture is Hareli, which is celebrated with great pomp across the state. On this day farmers worship the agricultural equipment used in farming. In Hareli, everyone from children to elders enjoy the ride.