GANGTOK, : The State
Forest and Environment department is organising the ‘Sikkim Forest Sports Meet’
for its employees from April 18 to 20. The events are being held at Khelgaon,
Resithang and Palzor Stadium in Gangtok.
Themed “Sports for Camaraderie”, the event
celebrates 50 years of Sikkim’s Statehood through unity, sports and fun.
“Celebrating 50 years of Sikkim’s glory with
sports, unity and fun games, the theme reflects five decades of pride, from
Statehood to brotherhood, where Forest officers and staff reconnect and play
for camaraderie, while also promoting a sustainable lifestyle,” stated the
department.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday,
Forest minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha said, “Commemorating the 50th Year of
Statehood, the Forest department has decided to hold the first Sikkim Forest
Sports Meet with the theme ‘Sports for Camaraderie’. The aim of the event is to
foster camaraderie and brotherhood among all officials and staff of the
department right from secretary to the field staff.”
“The Forest department is a vast organisation with
a presence across all six districts of the State. Through this sports meet, we
hope to bring everyone under one roof, enhancing coordination and cooperation
among the team. Another important objective of the event is to promote physical
and mental fitness. As a uniformed department, it is essential for all our
officials and staff to maintain both physical and mental well-being,” he added.
Lepcha informed that the sports meet has about 25
events and participation of about 700 athletes selected from different
districts through district-level meets held during April 11-13.
PCCF-cum-principal secretary Pradeep Kumar added
that the department aims to make the sports meet exemplary by ensuring a
minimal carbon footprint. “We have chosen to transport athletes by buses
instead of individual departmental vehicles to reduce emissions. Additionally,
a dedicated Green Audit Team has been formed to assess the sporting venues
before and after the event. The idea is to return the venues in the same
condition, or better, than they were prior to the event,” he stated.
He further mentioned that steps are being taken to
minimize waste generation. “There will be no packed lunches or bottled water.
Instead, we have set up water refilling stations for participants and staff to
use their own bottles, promoting a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach,”
he said.
Director S.K. Thatal, the nodal officer for Sikkim
Forest Sports Meet, informed that the meet will have men’s and women’s
football, 100m, 400m, 1500m and 5000m events, shot put, long jump, table
tennis, badminton, carrom, chess, 5-km Fun Run, 21 km half marathon, spoon
race, sack race, tug of war and musical chair. “We have over 700 participants
registered for 25 events,” he added.
The event also intends to promote Mission LiFE –
Lifestyle for Environment and campaigns for SUP free events.
The sports meet is being held in collaboration
with Sports and Youth Affairs department, Khelo India, Badminton Association of
Sikkim, Chess Association of Sikkim and others. The press conference was also
attended by the CCF, CFs, directors, DFO and senior programme officer of ENVIS.
