Sports University & Academy being built to promote Sports in Bihar | 25 Jul 2023

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on July 21, 2023, the state government is working at many levels to develop a sports culture in Bihar. For this, the process of setting up a sports university and sports academy in the state is underway.

Key Points:

• Apart from this, 31 posts for this sports university and 81 posts for the sports academy have been approved by the administration.
• Both the state's first sports university and sports academy are to be set up at Rajgir in Nalanda district. Both these institutes will be set up in the international cricket stadium complex being built in Rajgir.
• Bihar has become the sixth state to set up a sports university after Gujarat, Punjab, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. For this, the Bihar Sports University Bill 2021 was passed by the legislature.
• The Vice-Chancellor of this University will be selected from the experience of sports administration and sports management as well as the international level player. At the same time, the ex-officio Chancellor of this university will be the Chief Minister.
• There is a plan to study from diploma to postgraduate related to sports in this sports university being built in Nalanda district. In the initial phase, subjects related to physical education, sports physics, sports training, sports media, sports management and sports administration will be taught.
• The headquarters of this university will be in Rajgir. The State Sports Academy of Rajgir will also be part of it. A provision has also been made to reserve 33% of seats for women in all colleges affiliated with the university.
• With the opening of the Sports University, not only sports will get a boost in Bihar, but it will also create employment for the people. Along with this, the shortage of physical teachers and sports trainers in the state will also be overcome.
• Apart from this, preparations are also underway to open new physical training colleges in the state, which will also prepare a large number of sports trainers.
• It is known that the International Cricket Stadium--Sports Academy is being constructed on 90.765 acres of Thera Hindupur Mouja in Thera village of Pilkhi panchayat, just five kilometres from the tourist town Rajgir.
• After the construction of this international stadium, national and international level matches will also be played here. This cricket stadium and sports academy are being constructed at a cost of Rs 740.82 crore.
• Along with cricket, other sports will also be organized in this international stadium-sports academy being built in Rajgir. There will also be a sports library.
• This stadium will have an indoor and outdoor sports complex. The academy will have facilities like a playground, sports equipment, and library along with a research, fitness and motivation centre.